THE credit crunch of recent months has had little effect on business failures in the region, according to research.

Figures released by Experian found East Anglia experienced a 6.5 per cent decrease in the number of business failures in 2007, compared to 2006 - a national trend.

Across the region 473 firms went busy in 2007, 33 fewer than 2006.

A COLCHESTER-based equity release company has picked up two industry awards.

Sixty Plus, in Tokely Road, Frating Green, won the Best Financial Adviser (fewer than ten employees) and Best Financial Adviser Newcomer at the Equity Release Awards 2007.

The winners were voted for by their peers.

SMALL business owners in the East of England expect the cost of running their business to increase in 2008.

Research by the Bank of Scotland Business Banking found eight in ten expected costs to rise, with three in ten expecting a rise between five and ten per cent.

Rents, interest rates, salaries, cost of supplies and raw materials are the main culprits, according to research.

A FEERING insurance company has been bought by Oval Limited.

FMW, which recently won several industry awards, has 60 staff.

FMW's managing director, Peter Blanc, will become regional managing director of Oval's eastern region, and will continue to head up his office.

THE Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has launched a campaign to encourage small businesses to report crime.

The Every Crime Every Time campaign is being run with the Coalition Against Crime.

It will encourage businesses to report every crime they are victim of, to the police.

The FSB hopes the campaign will raise awareness of the damage that crime against business causes to communities.

PRACTICAL tips on tribunals and how to handle a tribunal claim will be given at a seminar on February 6.

Birkett Long Solicitors and Park City Consulting, both based in Colchester, have organised the event at the Essex County Council chambers in Duke Street, Chelmsford.

The event will be set up as a mock tribunal, with audience participation, and starts at 8.30am.

For information call Jennie Skingsley on 01206 217605 or email jennie.skingsley@birkettlong.co.uk SEMINARS to help businesses improve their IT performances and protect themselves from fraud, will be held in March.

Organised by Evie Consulting, the seminar will also cover how to avoid loss of sensitive data.

The free seminar will be held at HSBC Bank Business Centre in North Station Road, Colchester, on March 29 between 12.30pm and 2pm.

For details call 0870 7662534.

CUSTOMERS are happier with the service they receive from businesses, according to a survey.

Colchester-based Institute of Customer Service (ICS) said the good results are down to businesses realising the importance of customer service.

The survey is the first in a twice-yearly series by ICS for a UK Customer Satisfaction Index.