All articles by Louise Farrand
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AnalysisWhere does auto-enrolment sit in a pensions strategy?
Employers are incorporating auto-enrolment into their pensions strategy in different ways to help staff avoid retirement poverty.
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Case StudiesWolseley Group enhances pension provision beyond auto-enrolment minimums
The trade supplier moved to a master trust and enhanced contribution structures as part of its focus on delivering good outcomes for its employees.
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AnalysisBuyer’s guide to stakeholder pension schemes
Stakeholder pensions are a type of contract-based defined contribution (DC) pension plan that can be cost effective for employers.
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AnalysisHow can employers ensure their workplace pension delivers value for money?
Defining value for money in DC pensions involves investment performance, communication, digital engagement, and responsiveness to employers and members.
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Case StudiesFirst Bus ensures pension savers are set for a comfortable retirement
First Bus reviewed its pension arrangements and felt that value for money encompassed more than pure investment returns.
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AnalysisHow to ensure a pension scheme provides the best retirement outcomes
Responsibility for employees’ retirement outcomes is shared between the saver, the employer and the pension scheme.
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AnalysisHow employers can support staff with long-term conditions and non-visible disabilities
There are a plethora of benefits that employers can offer to support long-term health conditions and non-visible disabilities.
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Case StudiesDerwent London offers comprehensive support for long-term and non-visible conditions
Derwent London has taken steps to inform and educate staff so that those with chronic health conditions, or disability or accessiblity needs are fully supported.
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AnalysisWhat does the government's pots-for-life plan mean for employers?
Credit: P Maxwell Photography/Shutterstock The pension pots-for-life plan takes the onus off of employees to keep track of their pensions as they move jobs. Clarification is needed on how employers would manage the process of putting employees’ contributions into many different pension pots. Pots for life ...
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AnalysisHow are rising costs influencing employers' benefits strategies?
Credit: Eviart / Shutterstock.comNeed to know:Despite the tough economic climate, evidence suggests that employers are not slashing their benefits budgets. Instead, they are making the most of what they already have, and thinking outside the box about inexpensive benefits that they could offer.Employers can make benefits feel personal and relevant ...
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Case StudiesHousing 21 refreshes benefits in the cost-of-living crisis
Credit: Housing 21Now that many workplaces are au fait with talking about mental health and the menopause, is money management the last stigma?Ian Hodson, director of people and culture at Housing 21, says: “It is the last taboo. People still won’t talk about their finances.”In a cost-of-living crisis, this stigma ...
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AnalysisHow to sell pensions change into an organisation
Need to know:Change will happen when it comes to employers’ pensions plans. Whatever the change, some universal principles remain true.Stakeholders should be involved early, to ensure they can voice any objections and feel involved in the process. Avoid legalese; be honest, clear and concise. If it is bad news, upfront ...
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Case StudiesRoadshows were secret to success when Ford moved to pensions master trust
When Ford Motor Company moved to a master trust in April 2022, explaining the changes to people at pensions roadshows was a priority.Oliver Payne, international pensions and data analytics manager at Ford and founder of the Reinventing Pensions event, explains: “The reason for that is you get people’s focused attention. ...
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AnalysisWhat is the current state of play with pensions dashboards?
Need to know:The Department for Work and Pensions announced a delay to the delivery of the pensions dashboard programme in March 2023.Employers should use this additional time to make sure they have their data up-to-date, in order and correct.Employers should also consider their communications and resources; once the dashboard project ...
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AnalysisWhat are the benefits of educating employees around pensions investments?
Need to know:There are plenty of benefits to getting employees engaged with their pensions investments, but employers should to be clear about what behaviour they want to encourage.Investments can be made meaningful by using layman's terms to explain the funds, and what they mean for employees.Bringing environmental, social, and corporate ...
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Case StudiesIngenuity starts with the basics of pension scheme investment communication
When it comes to communicating to employees about pension scheme investing, Gary Douglas, finance director of new business agency Ingenuity, is of the firm belief that you must get the basics right first.Ingenuity, which employs just under 80 people, has historically had quite a young staff body. Accordingly, pensions were ...
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AnalysisWhat does the collective defined contribution (CDC) code of practice include?
Need to know: The Pensions Regulator has published a new code of practice for employers that would like to introduce collective defined contribution (CDC) pension schemes. The code lays out the detailed and extensive process employers will need to go through to receive authorisation. It is ...
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Case StudiesVirgin Money firmly embeds financial wellbeing into employee experience
When Virgin Money introduced its new employment package, A Life More Virgin, in early 2022, financial wellbeing was one important piece in the jigsaw.Post-pandemic, flexibility and choice are key themes which run through the employee experience at Virgin Money. Accordingly, the bank wanted each of its 7,500 employees to find ...
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AnalysisHow to create a targeted financial wellbeing strategy
Need to know:Many employers already have great financial wellbeing tools in place, they just need to be promoted more effectively.Any benefits introduced to support financial wellbeing should be underpinned with education.Employers should plan to measure the effectiveness of any financial wellbeing support and be prepared to amend this if situations ...
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Case StudiesLove Energy Savings quickly adapted to hybrid ways of working
When the Covid-19 pandemic first started, the team at Love Energy Savings, a price comparison website for businesses, was concerned. As an organisation which in large part consists of call centre employees, how could it possibly embrace remote working?These days, the 289-strong organisation sees hybrid working as a superpower. How ...