Essex FSB spokesman for Havering, Millie Grant, said: "Networking is a proven way of gaining new business and this new partnership between Essex FSB and the CEME Conference Centre means that on the second Tuesday of each month business from East London and West Essex can come together to network.

"With CEME providing the venue free of charge and Essex FSB doing the event organisation the only cost to people attending will be any refreshments they choose to buy from the Costa Coffee franchise at CEME.

"More details, including how to book, can be found at www.fsb.org.uk/essex/rainham-network-group "

CEME Conference Centre spokesperson, Lisa Alexander, said: "We are very excited about this new partnership which brings the country's leading business organisation, the FSB. to the Thames Gateway's leading business venue.

"Similar network group elsewhere in the area have proved very successful attracting between 20 and 50 people each month with some good business being done between them and we hope that the Rainham Network Group will prove equally successful.

"The first meeting will be on Tuesday 12 October 2010 starting at 7.45am until 9.30am."

The FSB represents more than 213,000 business people across the United Kingdom and is the largest single organisation representing business interests in the country.

The South West Essex Branch of the FSB represents the interest of small businesses in the following postcode areas - CM13 to CM16, SS17, RM1 to RM20, and IG1 to IG11 - which includes Brentwood, Epping Forest, Havering, Redbridge and Thurrock Councils.

More information on the Essex Region of the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) can be found at www.fsb.org.uk/essex.

More details on the CEME Conference Centre can be found at www.cemecc.co.uk .