There are thriving self-help networks in the North West

Design Initiative is interested to note that Peter Spence did not discover any local self-help design networking groups in the North West (Letters, DW 31January).

DI has been promoting good design and providing business support to designers in the North West for the past 15 years. Through networking activities, national and international projects and awards, it has raised the profile of local designers in the way Spence writes about. DI also operates Futures, a network for Merseyside-based design for communication businesses.

In Capital of Culture Year we are working in partnership with Momentous to deliver Design Show Liverpool, which will showcase a high proportion of North West-produced design.

DI is not alone in operating networks in the region. We work in partnership with Merseyside ACME and CIDS (based in Manchester), and they deliver their own activities, as do Crisp in Cheshire, Creative Lancashire and Group Hub in Preston.

Frank Collins, Projects manager, Design Initiative, Liverpool L1 4DQ