The Pensions Regulator's Charles Counsell explains its new guide to help small employers get ready for auto-enrolment.
We have written the online guide especially for employers with 1-50 staff, many of whom will have limited pensions experience.
It explains in clear and simple terms how to complete key tasks such as knowing when to be ready, providing a point of contact for the regulator, checking who needs to be enrolled and creating a plan of action.
The 11-step online guide walks employers through their legal requirements and is a key part of a wider package of measures we are rolling out to give more than 1m employers all the information they need, written and produced in a way they makes sense to them.
The aim of the guide reflects the regulator’s determination to do all we can to reach out to small and micro businesses preparing for their auto-enrolment duties.
We want to make the process as simple as possible so that employers can avoid the risk of non-compliance.
The 11-step online guide walks employers through their legal requirements and is a key part of a wider package of measures we are rolling out to give more than 1m employers all the information they need
The majority of small businesses are expected to turn to their business advisers for help – the regulator will soon also be enhancing its online business adviser hub so they will have all the information they need to help their clients.
As well as updated online information, all 1.5m small and micro businesses are to receive letters from the regulator in the coming months as part of a UK-wide campaign to alert employers to their duties.
The new-look online guide, national letter campaign and the enhanced business adviser hub are part of a package of communications targeted at small and micro employers and their advisers.
The measures run alongside a national radio and online advertising campaign launched earlier this year.
In addition, experts from the regulator continue to travel the country to meet employer and advisers providing technical help with auto-enrolment.
These communications are to ensure all employers know when their auto-enrolment duties begin and start planning in good time.
The regulator’s website should be the first port of call for all employers and their advisers as it offers essential information about each task an employer will need to accomplish in order to comply and avoid penalties.
To see our step-by-step guide, click here.
Charles Counsell is executive director of auto-enrolment at the Pensions Regulator
