Coventry clothing manufacturers will soon find out how they shape up against their international competitors - thanks to a scheme run by the Coventry Clothing Partnership.

The scheme aims to develop a network of benchmarking clubs in Europe and twenty Coventry clothing manufacturers are being asked to take part by completing a questionnaire looking at a variety of production methods and they way they conduct their business.

The answers will be compared to those conducted on similar sized businesses in Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, France and Italy and will show where local manufacturers stand against overseas competitors. The results can be used to point them towards best practice.

The scheme is being funded by Adapt, a European social fund earmarked to assist clothing manufacturers across the EU.

Councillor Ram Lakha, chairman of the Clothing Centre's management committee, said:

"By working in close partnership with local manufacturers and other organisations we can see where to improve working practices and make Coventry clothing manufacturers world-class.

"Increasing international competition means no business can be complacent about how they work and this project will provide valuable pointers on where to improve."

Local universities and Chambers of Commerce are undertaking the research in the different European countries. The results of the project will be published in a report in the summer.