The network will launch at a breakfast meeting on 9 July at Birminghams Millennium Point. It will be addressed by MG Rover Group chairman John Towers.

Nick Read, Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) manager at Matthew Boulton College in Birmingham, is organising the event.

Were trying to do a similar thing to what has been done in the East Midlands, he said. The network has been backed by the local Learning & Skills Council and hopes to source training, business advice and investment funds for West Midlands printers.

There are a lot of different schemes about and we want to make people aware of them, said Read.

The event is sponsored and free for printers.

Contact: Nick Read, 0121 446 4545 ext 3252, nread@matthew-boulton.ac.uk.