All articles by Jennifer Paterson – Page 136

  • Article

    Legal and General research: A third of employees will opt out of auto-enrolment process

    2011-09-08T09:51:58Z

    Almost half (46%) of employees will stay in their organisation’s pension scheme, while 33% will opt out of the auto-enrolment process, according to research by Legal and General.The research, conducted in July, also found that 21% of respondents did not know which option they would take.The results are a slight ...

  • Article

    ONS research: Recession causes fall in pension scheme contributions

    2011-09-08T09:47:01Z

    Total contributions to pension schemes fell from £20.9 billion in 2007/08 to £18.7 billion in 2009/10, largely due to a fall in the number of people contributing during the recession, according to figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).ONS' report Pensions trends chapter eight: Pension contributions considers the following:The ...

  • Article

    Nest Corporation announces employer and member panels

    2011-09-07T09:30:50Z

    Nest Corporation has announced the appointees to its employer and member panels.The panels will provide a forum for employers and employees to give their perspectives on the national employment savings trust (Nest), and contribute to a range of issues and activities that may affect them now and in the future.Each ...

  • Article

    Unum adds new perks to flexible benefits scheme

    2011-09-07T08:59:43Z

    Unum has introduced new perks to its flexible benefits scheme, including financial education with the Money Advice Service, annual health screening, Tastecard membership, and employee discounts.The insurance firm has offered a flex scheme, provided by Enrich Employee Benefits, for three years. It added the new perks during its annual enrolment ...

  • Article

    P&MM launches online travel portal

    2011-09-07T08:53:07Z

    P&MM added an online travel portal to its voluntary benefits offer.Employers can offer the perk to staff to help them save on holidays and travel bookings.The Lifestyle Travel Club offers discounts from operators such as Thomas Cook, Virgin, Airtours, Club 18-30, Thomsons and First Choice.The portal will be integrated into ...

  • Article

    The London Pensions Fund Authority publishes proposals for local government pensions reform

    2011-09-06T09:41:11Z

    The London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA) has published proposals for the reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LPGS).The proposals are intended to stimulate debate around the reformed LGPS, which is to be implemented from 2015.These cover scheme design, cost mechanism, structure, and practical ideas on implementation.The key proposals include:Accepting ...

  • Article

    STV reduces pension deficit by £5 million following mortality review

    2011-09-06T09:40:43Z

    Broadcaster STV has reduced its pension scheme by £5 million following a mortality review.The 12-month review, by independent financial advisers LEBC Group, involved the development of software that will predict the average life expectancy and health profile of members of the broadcaster’s Caledonian Publishing pension scheme.The scheme’s 800 pensioners and ...

  • Article

    The Equiniti Group acquires employee services division of NatWest Stockbrokers

    2011-09-06T09:37:50Z

    The Equiniti Group has acquired the corporate and employee services division of NatWest Stockbrokers.The division will form part of the share scheme provider’s investment services business.Wayne Story, chief executive officer at the Equiniti Group, said: "The addition of corporate and employee services will build upon our existing service offering. "The ...

  • Article

    Punter Southall acquires Brewin Dolphin’s corporate pensions business

    2011-09-06T09:31:00Z

    Punter Southall has acquired the occupational pensions business of Brewin Dolphin.Brewin Dolphin has been a Punter Southall actuarial and pension administration client for 19 years.Upon completion of the transaction on 1 October, the team at Brewin Dolphin team will move to Punter Southall’s Newcastle offices, bringing over 100 corporate pension ...

  • Article

    Virgin Media streamlines benefits and payroll administration

    2011-09-02T09:51:08Z

    Virgin Media has launched a platform called Employee Services to effectively communicate with all its employees.RightNow centralises the organisation’s various HR departments – the people team, employee benefits and payroll – into a single resource for staff. Its aim is to expedite employee access to benefits and payroll information.The platform ...

  • Article

    Logica partners SuperChoice to launch auto-enrolment product

    2011-09-02T09:49:29Z

    Business and technology firm Logica has partnered with Australian superannuation exchange SuperChoice to launch an auto-enrolment product to help employers meet the legislative requirements of the 2012 pension reforms.The product is based on the SuperChoice technology platform, which provides online contribution processing systems to around 40% of Australia’s largest pension ...

  • Article

    Aviva launches online group risk claims system

    2011-09-01T09:26:58Z

    Aviva has launched an online group risk claims system, which allows claim forms to be completed and submitted online.The new online claim form has been designed to capture enough information to determine within 24 hours what further documentation may be needed.Steve Bridger, head of group risk at Aviva, said: “The ...

  • Article

    Pensions Management Institute launches affiliate grade membership

    2011-09-01T09:24:03Z

    The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has launched a new affiliate grade of membership that will invite employee benefits and retirement savings professionals to become members of the organisation without having to study for a qualification.The new membership grade is part of the PMI’s membership changes which take effect from today, ...

  • Article

    Secondsight to raise funds for Kenyan schools at Employee Benefits Live

    2011-09-01T09:22:04Z

    Employee benefits adviser Secondsight will be raising funds for two Kenyan schools at Employee Benefits Live 2011.After a trip to Kenya, one of the firm’s partners, Darren Laverty, pledged to support the Amani Junior Academy and the Showers of Blessings school, both situated in Watamu, two hours north of Mombassa, ...

  • Article

    Zenith Provecta rebrands to Zenith

    2011-09-01T00:00:01Z

    Fleet provider Zenith Provecta has rebranded as Zenith, three years after it acquired Provecta Car Plan.It has also introduced a new strapline: Intelligent Vehicle Solutions.Tim Buchan, chief executive officer at Zenith, said: “This is the next natural step in the organisation’s development.“We are in an exciting time in our progression ...

  • Article

    Goddard Perry Consulting launches financial education service

    2011-09-01T00:00:01Z

    Goddard Perry Consulting (GPC) has launched a financial education service called the Retirement Counsellor.Designed to assist employers and trustees with pension scheme communications, it will enable staff to consider which option at retirement is best for them.The service includes a bespoke pre-retirement report outlining all the choices, access to online ...

  • Article

    Philips UK rolls out a salary sacrifice car scheme

    2011-09-01T00:00:01Z

    Philips UK has introduced a salary sacrifice car scheme for all permanent UK employees.The scheme, which is provided by Zenith, is part of the organisation’s flexible benefits package.The cars in the scheme are restricted to a maximum 145g per km carbon dioxide.Nicolas Bedard, fleet manager at Philips UK, said: “It ...

  • Article

    GE Capital partners PSA Peugot Citroen in electric cars deal

    2011-09-01T00:00:01Z

    GE Capital has signed an agreement with PSA Peugeot Citroen that will see the fleet provider purchase up to 1,000 electric cars to offer employers at a pan-European level.The agreement would see GE Capital lease electric cars across Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.In ...

  • Article

    Employee Benefits Live: ICE Group closes DB pension scheme and saves money with new GPP

    2011-09-01T00:00:01Z

    Since the Institute for Civil Engineers (ICE Group) closed its defined benefit (DB) pension scheme to future accrual and launched a group personal pension (GPP) scheme in 2010 it has saved £240,000 and reinvested in new benefits.Speaking at Employee Benefits Live, Ethan Kelly-Wilson, project director, human resources, ICE Group, said ...

  • Article

    Centrica, Dell and Jaguar Land Rover shortlisted for Working Families awards

    2011-09-01T00:00:01Z

    Centrica, Dell, Deutsche Bank and Jaguar Land Rover are among the organisations short-listed for the Top Employers for Working Families awards.The annual awards from Working Families rates the family-friendly policies for working parents and carers offered by UK employers.The shortlist is:The best for flexible working awardAccentureAllianz Insurance UKCentricaChwaraeTegDell CorporationThe best ...