INSURANCE and investment giant Aviva is offering help to small businesses to understand the latest rules on workplace pensions.

The multinational company is to hold a free seminar later this month at its offices in Wellington Row, York, for small enterprises which are still preparing for auto-enrolment.

Auto-enrolment was launched in 2012, and since then it has been a legal requirement that all employers, no matter what their size, must offer a workplace pension to their employees.

About 700,000 small businesses are still due to go through the process of setting up a pension for their staff during 2016 and 2017.

The Aviva seminar on Monday, September 26, aims to help businesses in Yorkshire get to grips with what they have to do and find out more about auto-enrolment.

A range of industry experts will be at the event, which will run from 5pm to 8pm.

The speakers will be Malcolm Goodwin, from Aviva; Stephen Rowntree, from the Pensions Regulator; and Mike Rohan, business development manager for business software firm Sage.

Andy Beswick, managing director of business solutions at Aviva, said: “We have a strong presence in Yorkshire and we very much feel part of the community.

“There are a large number of SMEs in this area that offer great products and services and we want to be able to support them in providing access to a pension for their employees.

“Auto-enrolment can be daunting and seen as just another cost to an SME owner. But a workplace pension is actually a very valuable benefit that can enhance a business and it is now a legal requirement.

“We have expertise in workplace pensions and we want to share that with the business community in Yorkshire.

“The seminar will be chance for business owners to hear from experts in workplace pensions, ask questions and network with their peers to find out what others are doing when it comes to auto-enrolment.

“I hope plenty of businesses take advantage of this event as it could help answer many of the questions they have around auto-enrolment.

“Aviva has also now started its pre-review into auto-enrolment, ahead of the Government’s own review next year so it will be useful to hear the experiences of small business in Yorkshire.”

The seminar is open to any business in the Yorkshire area which has not yet set up its workplace pension.

To reserve a place at the event, which will also include an opportunity for networking, contact Chris Smart (email christopher.smart@aviva.com, phone07800 695 006) or Luke Mallinson (email luke.mallinson@aviva.com, phone 07800 693 158).