A NEWSLETTER dedicated to keeping companies in the Canterbury area up-to-date with the latest business developments is currently being circulated.

Business Life has been produced by Canterbury City Council and the district economic partnership in response to a survey conducted last year among local businesses.

Results suggested a regular newsletter was one of the main ways the council could improve the service it provides.

The first edition is being used to launch the council's web-based directory, which companies will be able to join free of charge.

Issue one also contains articles on the district's new economic partnership, developments of the Lakesview Business Park at Hersden, the success of the recent Meet the Buyer event in Canterbury and a list of dates for the diary.

Leader of the council, Cllr Alex Perkins, said: "We are delighted to be launching the first edition of Business Life, which has been put together following requests from the business community. We hope they like it and find it useful and will pass it on to new companies we may not know about.

"The new web-based business directory will allow us to build up a comprehensive database of local companies. By signing up to it, companies will be able to promote themselves to every other business in the district free of charge, as well as potential suppliers and customers."

The council is sending the newsletter to every company of which it has contact details, along with a letter asking them to enter information about their company for the new website directory.

Businesses who have not received the newsletter, or those who would like more information, should visit the council's website at www.business.canterbury.gov.uk or contact the council's planning customer contact centre on 01227 862178.