The North West German Network is an initiative involving schools, colleges, universities and businesses.

The network is holding its launch event on Tuesday 10 March at the Manchester Central Library in St Peter’s Square, starting at 4.30pm.

Guests will include the Honorary Consul to the Federal Republic of Germany, Mark Green, and representatives from the German Embassy in London and the British Council.

Educational establishments involved in the project include Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester Universities as well as Cardinal Newman College in Preston.

The launch will start with speeches and prize-giving for an inaugural writing and design competition, ‘What is German in the North West?’, which has received entries from students across the region.

Nine- to eighteen-year-olds have been taking part in the competition, which has been co-ordinated by the North West German Network to increase their knowledge of the links between Germany and the region.

They have been asked to design posters, write poems and newspaper articles, produce short films, create songs and design games.

The prize-giving will be followed by a drinks reception and an opportunity to view competition entries and the ‘Germans in Britain’ exhibition in the library.

The pop-up exhibition has been touring the country and is a chance for people to examine the rich and fascinating history of German migrants to Britain.

Emily Spiers, a Research Associate at the Department of Languages and Cultures and one of the organisers of the network launch, said: “We’re hoping to attract people who are interested in Germany from across the North West. The network has been set up to link all things German, from teaching the language to business and culture.

“We’re also hoping that the new body will be of help to students, who are interested in exploring and strengthening the links that exist between this part of the UK and Germany.

“The exhibition has had some great reviews and highlights again that there is much more to Anglo-German relations than football and war.

“Germans have had an immense impact on British life over the centuries and this exhibition looks at how many of our institutions and lifestyles have been shaped by this.”

For more information about the new North West German Network, visit www.nwgn.co.uk. To attend the launch, see competition entries and visit the exhibition, please contact Emily Spiers.