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.

A FINANCIAL advice company is only one of 100 nationwide to achieved chartered status.

The title recognises the quality of Emery Associates' life assurance and mortgage broking.

The firm, in Halstead's Bluebridge industrial estate, opened in 1995 and became a limited company ten years later.

Managing director Peter Emery said it was "gratifying" to receive the accolade.

A GOVERNMENT survey found 40 per cent of businesses don't know they can actually get employment law advice for free.

By contacting Business Link, businesses can use features including interactive tools, alerts to new legislation and an employment checklist.

For more information visit www.businesslink.gov.uk

THE Perfume Shop has beaten Boots, Tesco, Debenhams and House of Fraser in a customer satisfaction survey.

The company, which has a shop in Trinity Square, Colchester, was ranked joint 12th out of 77 shops, the survey by Which? said.

The investigation looked at convenience, customer service, experience, pricing and product.

The Perfume Shop beat the High Street rivals with an overall satisfaction rating of 62 per cent. The closest rival was House of Fraser with a 58 per cent rating.

LIMITS on payments made to workers in some employment rights tribunals has risen.

The change will affect situations including redundancy payments and compensation for some dismissal cases.

For more information visit www.opsi.gov.uk