TPR works with Aon to target AE guidance at small firms
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has partnered with Aon Employee Benefits to create a suite of information videos on auto-enrolment (AE).
The series has been targeted at the 500,000 small and medium-sized employers (SMEs) set to reach their staging dates in 2016.
It was originally designed for the dental industry's multi-employer specialist Denplan, which selected Aon's Littleblue solution for AE earlier this year.
The aim is to ensure SMEs understand their obligations well in advance of staging and begin making their preparations about nine months ahead of the deadline.
The videos address issues including who is classed as a worker; which types of employers might be excluded from the duties; and how to confirm whether any existing pension arrangements are compliant.
They follow figures from Now Pensions which showed one in eight SMEs did not contact the provider about the workplace pension initiative until after their staging date.
But the regulator has been tough on compliance, issuing 424 fixed penalty notices and five escalating penalty notices against businesses that failed to meet their obligations in the year to March.
Aon Employee Benefits head of AE Clare Abrahams said: "We know how daunting going through this process can be and how complex some of these issues can become.
"We wanted to create short and helpful videos that tackle the main issues and concerns and get employers thinking about taking action now in order to address any issues before their staging date creeps up on them."
TPR industry liaison manager for AE Ken Tymms added: "Around 1.8 million employers will need to meet their workplace pensions duties over the next three years and our research suggests that two-thirds of them have not yet identified their staging date.
"TPR offers support to providers of AE products and services, such as pension and payroll software providers, accountants/bookkeepers, payroll bureaux and financial advisors to help them to support their clients. We can clarify technical issues, supply content for information campaigns and support speaking events."
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