HOW is the Greater London Low Emmission Zone charge affecting you?

It is the question the Essex Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is asking its members.

The FSB believes the £200 a day charge is an extra tax and said businesses from the county who need to travel into the capital six days a week will be £62,000 worse off each year.

Email details of how the zone charge is affecting you to secretary.essex@fsb.org.uk

A SEARCH has begun to find the UK's best temp.

The Recruitment and Employment Federation is calling for entries from Essex The One in a Million competition is part of National Temporary Workers Week in June.

Deadline for entries is March 31. For more information visit tempweek.uk.com

HEALTH care provider Care UK said it made "good" progress during the first four months of the current financial year.

The business, based at Colchester Business Park, said its social care arm had seen good growth in revenues, with trading performance of the health care division "well ahead" of previous year.

The management added they were optimistic about this year's outlook.

BERESFORDS estate agent has opened a shop in Colchester.

The business will be based in Long Wyre Street and be staffed by ten agents.

The office will deal with residential sales and lettings, country homes, commercial and financial services.

SMALL businesses have learned more about the support services available to them.

At a meeting organised by the Federation of Small Businesses, businesses heard from speakers and about how the FSB can help them.

To find out more about the FSB visit fsb.org.uk/essex

A NEW partnership has been formed to offer businesses a "joined up" service.

Business Link and Jobcentre Plus in the east of England have agreed that if one organisation is helping a business or individual with an issue, it will also refer it to an appropriate service offered by the other group.

The partnership is aimed at helping new businesses, encourage take up of employer services, get the unemployed back into work, integrate public sector business support services and create and retain jobs in the region.

Find out more at businesslink.gov.uk/east and jobcentreplus.gov.uk

FUNDING has been allocated to prevent work place disputes from ending up at employment tribunals.

The £37 million Government cash will go to boosting a helpline and advice services provided by Acas and will be spread over three years.

The move, to be implemented in 2009 following a pilot programme, is expected to save businesses and employees more than £175 million a year.

AN Essex printing plant has been rated fourth in the UK and 13th in the world for the quality of its work.

Printwize, based in Witham, was highly commended in the Metal FX 2007 printing competition.

The competition was open to 2,500 printers who use the Metal FX software and Printwize was nominated by one of its clients.

Roger Wacey of Printwize said: "We do think the quality of our printing is good, but to get a rating like this is phenomenal."

A SEMINAR to help businesses improve their IT performance and protect themselves from fraud will be held on February 29.

The event is organised by Evie consulting and will be held at HSBC Bank Business Centre in North Station Road, Colchester between 12.30pm and 2pm.

For more information call 0870 7662534.

A WORKSHOP on ways to win sales for non-sales people, will be held in Chelmsford.

The event will be held at Pontlands Park, West Hanningfield, Great Baddow on February 19.

For more details or to register visit everywoman.com/Training/Diary/?id=944