NWTexnet (North West Technical Textiles Network), an organization which provides support to technical textiles companies in the North West of England, has launched a brand new website, www.nwtexnet.co.uk, to enhance communication with its members and encourage further collaboration amongst companies in the region.

NWTexnet’s support is free to companies based in the region and companies outside of the region can join the organization for a fee. Support covers a wide and extensive range of activities, which can be viewed through the web-site. The three main themes of support are:

· Developing the regional cluster

· Equipping local companies with the skills to compete in the global marketplace

· Highlight new and emerging technologies.

The new site, www.nwtexnet.co.uk, provides sector information on regional government strategy, funding and supply chain development opportunities and details of NWTexnet’s activities with respect to emerging technologies relevant to the sector.

NWTexnet has identified product sourcing as one of the key elements in the future success of the technical textiles cluster. The organizations Director, Bill Mills told Knitting Industry: “In response to this, we are developing training modules to look at developing skills within businesses. We will be focussing on supplier selection, the need for transparency in specification, custom tariffs, cost structures, terminology, and language and quality systems. All vital elements in any company’s sourcing strategy.”

NWTexnet works closely with Skillfast-UK, the sector skills council for the UK textile sector and has been successful in delivering training support to Northwest companies through the Women and Work scheme. Bill Mills and his team are currently preparing to bid for funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to deliver a project which will develop skills in sourcing of product and new product development, using a team of specialists with technical textile experience. Further details will be posted on the website shortly.