October 2012 saw the introduction of Auto-Enrolment, a major pension reform that affected every employer in the UK.

These regulations require every employer to automatically enrol their workforce into a qualifying workplace pension scheme with minimum contribution standards, record keeping requirements and re-enrolment processes.

At Woodward Markwell, we have extensive experience guiding employers through the maze of legislation, setting up and running qualifying pension plans. We advise on all major providers including NEST, NOW Pensions and People's Pension. We tailor advice to each employer.

What Auto-Enrolment Means for Your Business

Automatic Enrolment

All eligible employees must be automatically enrolled into a qualifying pension scheme. Workers can opt out if they wish.

Minimum Contributions

Employers must contribute at least 3% (with employee contributing minimum 5%) to the scheme for auto-enrolled workers.

Legal Compliance

Comprehensive record keeping and compliance monitoring ensure you meet all regulatory requirements.

Re-enrolment

Every three years, workers are re-enrolled to maintain participation levels and meet ongoing compliance.

Our Auto-Enrolment Support

  • Duties Assessment — Identifying which employees are affected and when duties commence
  • Scheme Selection — Choosing the most appropriate pension provider (NEST, NOW, People's Pension, etc.)
  • Implementation — Setting up payroll integration and employee communications
  • Ongoing Compliance — Ensuring ongoing compliance with legislation and deadlines
  • Re-enrolment Management — Managing the three-yearly re-enrolment process
  • Employee Support — Providing resources and information for employees

Key Auto-Enrolment Deadlines

Your auto-enrolment staging date depends on your PAYE scheme. Once duties commence, you have strict deadlines to:

  • Inform employees of their rights
  • Automatically enrol eligible workers
  • Register with the Pensions Regulator
  • Commence pension contributions
  • Maintain detailed records

Missing deadlines can result in penalties from the Pensions Regulator, so expert guidance is essential.