Ref. 30928-08A NEW network for people working in hi-tech IT is to be launched in Swindon next month.

Wired West aims to give computing professionals a chance to meet up, see how co-operation might benefit everyone, share best practice and to promote the area.

It started originally in Exeter, the brainchild of a commercial lawyer called Edmund Probert, and local groups across the south west have been slowly setting up.

Following on from the success of branches in Exeter, Somerset and Bristol, the Swindon and Wiltshire section hopes to take off too. Computer lawyer Jeremy Holt, a partner at Clark Holt solicitors in Old Town is on the committee.

"I think it's going to be a success," he said. "There's a huge demand for it and I think local IT people do want to meet each other.

"Edmund Probert thought the IT industry was not getting its act together in the south west and needed a hub and Swindon is a classic case of this too.

"There's not anywhere for IT people to get together."

The first meeting of Swindon and Wiltshire Wired West is on Tuesday, November 9 at the De Vere Hotel in Shaw Ridge, and the guest speaker will be Colin Barker, the consulting editor of Computing magazine, who will talk about the future of the computing industry.

The Wired West organisers have stressed that the meetings are not a formal club and the only qualification is an interest in the IT industry.

Mr Holt said: "The local climatic conditions are just perfect because at the moment there's not anything that brings people together.

"There's a lot of IT activity, but a lot of dispersed small software houses or one-man bands. Nobody's making any money from out of it and there's no hidden agenda just an opportunity to get together."

To find out more call Sarah on 07775 925972 or email wiltshireandswindon@wired-west.co.uk.

Further information is also available at www.wiredwest.-co.uk