FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8th February 2016

Small businesses confused over auto enrolment urged to seek help, be prepared as ‘tsunami' begins

With worry high among small businesses over newworkplace pension rules, and deadlines looming for sign-up, now is the time for employers to seek professional help.

Almost half (45%) of small businesses are confused about auto enrolment rules obliging them to enrol employees in a qualifying workplace pension scheme, according to a recent study by the Federation of Small Businesses. The study also found that three-quarters of small businesses felt the regulations would put too much pressure on them, and that one in four thought their business might not cope with the added financial demands.

The news comes just as auto enrolment activity ramps up, with a tidal wave of enrolment and re-enrolment hitting the business community all over the UK.

The Auto Enrolment Advisor, set up to help guide company owners and directors through the auto enrolment process,said the report's findings stressed the need for small businesses to be prepared.

The Auto Enrolment Advisor's Graham Robinson commented:

"Typically, small, micro and medium sized businesses (SMEs) have less awareness of issues such as auto enrolment due to their size. They don't have in-house human resources departments to manage the process, like many of the early employers who met their obligations. So to negate this, early preparation is critical."

Robinson warned that smaller employers may face another issue too: what he calls "the capacity crunch". The Government's auto enrolment rules were rolled out in 2012, with only large employers affected at first. Over the next two years more than a million SMEs will be complying with the regulations. Tens of thousands are expected to comply, or 'stage', each month during 2016 and 2017, and more than 500,000 employers are due to stage in 2016 alone.

Robinson commented:

"As we progress, the number of schemes registered is rising sharply. The peak is expected to be August 2017, but 2016 is set to be an exceptionally busy year too. Added to this, the first employers to tackle auto enrolment in 2012 will be the first to implement re-enrolment, which may put further strain on the administration process of the providers.

"The auto enrolment 'tsunami' that experts have been predicting has started. Our advice to SMEs is to seek proper legal advice and start the necessary processes as soon as possible." 

Although 51% of businesses think they can meet the challenge of the new workplace pension, 26% did not know their staging date, according to the FSB findings. 

Robinson said that increased media coverage surrounding auto enrolment, coupled with the Department for Work and Pensions' recent ‘Workie' advertising campaign, made him confident that employer confusion surrounding auto enrolment would diminish. He added:

"However, it should be stressed that the earlier they speak to someone the more the advisor can help them with their enrolment." 

ENDS

For more information please contact Tricia Fox at Volpa on 01738 658187 or 07989 955039 or t.fox@volpa.co.uk

Notes to Editors

www.theautoenrolmentadvisor.co.uk

Twitter.com/TheAEAdvisor

About The Auto Enrolment Advisor

Starting from October 2012, every business across the UK was required to enrol their employees into a Qualifying Workplace Pension Scheme. It is the first time that employers have been required by law to contribute to employees' pension schemes. Every employer is now working towards auto enrolment, with a staging date that is specific to them, to ensure they meet their legal duties.

The Auto Enrolment Advisor draws on 34 years in the financial services industry to help guide company owners and directors through the process.