Auto Enrolment has arrived and there is a lot to do……

The Pension Regulator website will help you create a stage by stage plan working back from the date when you need to start (staging date), it is a useful planning tool http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/planning-for-automatic-enrolment.aspx

Most schemes will be set up with one of the following providers:

NEST – National Employment Savings Trust – NEST was originally created by the government – limited help for employers

The Peoples Pension – B&CE – B&CE is well known in the Construction world, they have online tools to help you

Now: Pensions – ATP (Denmark) – 45 year experience in pensions and many awards

You could use another provider and you should take independent expert advise, never give pension or investment advice unless you are qualified to do so.

If you are asked for advice remember to say ‘I know nothing’

But as an employer you do need to select a pension scheme for Auto Enrolment.

Then you need to consider how you will comply with your responsibilities and keep records for:

• Contributions
• Opting Out
• Opting In
• Earnings
• Employee Records
• Communication with Employees

Take a look at this video for middleware to get an understanding of how you could manage your compliance requirements

So here are your 3 basic ways to comply:

1. Small Employers – you may decide to do it yourself using information on the Pension Regulators website and provider of your choice
2. Pension Provider Portals – schemes like the Peoples Pension will have portals and tools to help you manage your auto enrolment pensions but it won’t cater for other benefits and other schemes
3. Middleware – like the video above, this gives lots of functionality and will allow you incorporate other schemes and benefits but its not free

You might also find this blog worth reading ‘10 things you need to know about Pension Auto Enrolment’

steve@bicknells.net