outsourced payroll

Employee engagement starts with payroll
  • Scott Read
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Why employee engagement starts with the payroll team

Why employee engagement starts with the payroll team 1280 720 Scott Read

National Payroll Week is an occasion designed to mark the hard work payroll professionals do to keep Britain paid. And they really do.

In a year that started with CPIH inflation rates of 26.7% caused by housing fuel costs, payroll is becoming the most important department in every business and the payroll team is potentially carrying the weight of success on its shoulders.

35% of UK employees would find another job if they were paid incorrectly even once and 51% would lose trust in their employer and resent them. Based on this, you could be seeing more than a third of your staff walking out the door if the payroll department mess up just once – this is huge. Overlooking payroll processors as a business-critical role opens companies up to risks that aren’t just limited to financial in nature.

The first risk to consider is morale.

If an employee is paid incorrectly, they lose trust and confidence in the management and they might be vocal about it too. You can imagine it “we’re not priority” “we’re an afterthought” “I bet the boss still got paid”.  Of course, the thoughts will depend on how big an error is, how frequent errors are and who is on the receiving end, but they can quickly create a culture where people question the management’s integrity – if they don’t care enough to get my pay right, they certainly don’t care about what’s going on at home. Low morale can lead to a reputational issue internally but with the growth of review sites such as Glassdoor, internal reputational issues can quickly become external issues not only impacting retention but talent acquisition too.

Do it once you might be ok, do it more than once you’re in trouble.

At this point any change (good or bad) can raise suspicion. If you pay people a day early but don’t communicate why, they’ll think you don’t know what you’re doing. Pay people a day late, they’ll think there’s a cashflow issue. A lack of trust here will make employees question their faith in the leadership team to make decisions in other areas of the business and ultimately their confidence in the business and its products or services. And no matter what the cause is, people won’t 100% believe your reasons.

I believe people leave jobs for more money.

Yes, more and more people are considering culture and employee benefits over salary but ultimately in a time where less and less people have savings for a rainy day because it’s been raining for two years, pay matters and is usually the deciding factor. So, a reputation for paying people late or incorrectly isn’t a look you need to be going for.

Employee benefits are not contractual in nature and can be removed from an employee’s contract without consultation. Being paid correctly on a certain date is. In essence, if you mess up payroll, you mess with people’s contracts of employment. Employee benefits don’t mean anything if you have a bad culture anyway. So, for those companies that attract people based on a great rate of pay if you don’t deliver it on-time and correctly – you better have an out of this world company culture to make them stay. Of course, chances are you won’t if you have payroll issues.

Payroll is complicated.

The importance of paying people correctly isn’t new – but when you consider that a third of UK workers are now living payday to payday the potential impact of payroll errors and mistakes has higher stakes.  But payroll is complicated. You only have to look back to last year when bosses of high street giant Next apologised to staff for underpaying some of them by up to £200 a month due to a payroll error and just a few months ago WH Smith, Marks & Spencer and Argos were among a list of companies facing financial penalties for payroll breaches.  If the big boys can make mistakes, it’s a stark reminder to check in with your payroll team or provider to assess the potential risk to your business. If new legislation is announced, how is it handled? Do they have the reliable updated software to comply automatically with significant changes?

Ultimately if you want an engaged workforce, check in with your payroll team or provider first. If you want to invest in employee benefits to improve company culture, check in with your payroll team or provider beforehand. If you genuinely care about your employees and believe they are the key to business success, you guessed it check in with your payroll team or provider.

Happy national payroll week!

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Scott Read, CEO of Employee Services at Growth Partners

Scott Read Growth Partners discusses the link between employee engagement and retention

Scott Read is a results-driven business leader with a proven track record in helping employers strategise key business growth through employee engagement. To find out more about the link between pay, pensions and employee benefits chat to us or book a demo with one of our experts.

How payroll outsourcing works in 2023
  • Growth Partners
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An introduction to payroll outsourcing – how payroll outsourcing works in 2023

An introduction to payroll outsourcing – how payroll outsourcing works in 2023 1280 720 Growth Partners

The UK payroll system plays a crucial role in the smooth running of a business – ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while complying with legal and regulatory requirements.

35% of UK employees would find another job if they were paid incorrectly even once, and 51% would lose trust in their employer and resent them (Sage, 2023). Statistics like this show the pressure on payroll managers for data accuracy and on-time processing.

As a business grows and evolves, the demands on its payroll department increase and often present a need to assess the advantages and opportunities available within the payroll landscape.

The growth of a business means that its’ leaders have an important decision to make. Do they invest in additional key staff such as payroll clerks, finance managers, and HR support, or do they outsource?

Additions to headcount are expensive, but the perception is they help maintain a level of control within the business, which isn’t strictly true. Enabling key outsourced partnerships at an early stage of business growth can be pivotal to ensuring the chosen partners grow with them.

Business owners are always thinking about growth, productivity, and profitability. The notion that maintaining control over these services gives greater certainty can be problematic and is often contradictory to reality.

In this comprehensive guide to outsourced payroll, we explore:

  • the range of payroll outsourcing options
  • potential benefits for your business, and
  • what things to look out for.

We’ll also share insights into maximising its potential by leveraging specialised outsourced payroll providers.

What are the options for payroll outsourcing? 

It’s important to note the scope of services provided by payroll service providers can vary depending on three main things; the type of provider you choose, the specific provider and the package or plan you opt for. It’s advisable to understand what each type of provider offers before selecting one that aligns with your business requirements.

The four types of payroll providers are:

  1. Accountant
  2. Payroll bureau/specialist payroll provider
  3. Professional Employer Organisation (PEO)
  4. Umbrella

Four types of payroll provider

1. Outsourcing payroll to an accountant

The key is to find an accountant that specialises in payroll. They can ensure your payroll is accurate and compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. You are ultimately responsible for any inaccuracies, but they can advise on any change in legislation and deadlines.
When considering outsourcing payroll to an accountancy firm, it’s crucial to assess their proficiency in payroll processing since not all accountants specialise in this field. It’s also essential to review their client track record, and how familiar they are with industry regulations. You need to ensure they cater to the specific needs and scale of your business. Consider the costs involved, the level of service, and the support they can offer.

2. Outsourcing payroll to a payroll bureau/specialist payroll provider

Payroll bureaus specialise in payroll services. They have extensive expertise in payroll processing, tax calculations, compliance, and other payroll-related tasks. By outsourcing payroll to them, businesses benefit from their specialised knowledge, accuracy, efficiency, and time savings. Payroll bureaus may offer services tailored to specific business needs, handle complex payroll processes, and help ensure compliance with regulations. They can often provide advanced payroll software and systems. They offer scalability and data security and allow businesses to focus on their core operations knowing payroll management is handled by experienced professionals.
When considering outsourcing to a specialised payroll bureau, verify the bureau’s reputation, experience, and service offerings to ensure they align with your payroll needs. Confirm their ability to customise services to your unique requirements and enquire about data protection measures. You can compare pricing structures and take into consideration the level of customer support you may need versus what they offer.

 

3. Outsourcing payroll to an umbrella company

When outsourcing payroll to an umbrella company, contractors or freelancers become employees of the umbrella company. The umbrella company then handles administrative and payroll-related tasks. Contractors submit timesheets, and the umbrella company calculates payments, deducts taxes, and ensures compliance with regulations.
Using an umbrella company can be convenient for contractors who want to focus on their work and prefer to have the administrative responsibilities taken care of by a third party. Using an umbrella company means contractors will become employees for payroll purposes. They may have slightly reduced flexibility and control compared to operating as a self-employed individual. Businesses using contractors, no longer need to worry about IR35 with an umbrella company.
When considering outsourcing payroll to an umbrella company, you should assess the fees and services, and understand any impact of being employed by an umbrella company. Contractors should also consider consulting with professional advisors to ensure the umbrella company services align with their specific needs and circumstances, e.g. IR35.

 

4. Outsourcing payroll to a Professional Employer Organisation (PEO)

PEOs take on various HR and payroll responsibilities on behalf of a business. One of the key functions handled by a PEO is payroll processing.
With a PEO, they become the employer of record for your employees, while you retain control over their day-to-day work and operations. This includes the PEO taking on responsibility for compliance with all HMRC and Pension Regulator requirements, taking the liability away from you. If you use contractors, you won’t need to worry about IR35 with a PEO. PEOs take on payroll tasks such as calculating wages, deductions, and taxes and ensuring accurate and on-time payment of wages. PEOs also manage tax and compliance matters. This expertise and focus on compliance can provide peace of mind and help mitigate potential compliance risks associated with payroll management.
PEOs also provide businesses with HR services to help them grow. The aim is for the business to be able to focus on growth and rely on the expertise and resources of the PEO to handle all the complexities of payroll, pensions, and HR administration.
When looking at outsourcing to a PEO, factors to consider are reputation, financial stability, compliance track record, experience, level of customer support, data security measures, and understanding of your specific business needs. You should also assess the range of HR services they provide for both employers and employees as part of the package.

I435 off-payroll working rules

What are the benefits of outsourcing payroll over keeping it in-house? 

Enhanced data security and confidentiality
Managing payroll data comes with data security responsibilities, such as maintaining up-to-date security measures, regular backups, and staying informed about evolving data privacy regulations. It can require dedicated resources and expertise, depending on the size and complexity of your payroll operation.

Outsourcing to a provider with robust data security measures to protect sensitive employee information will relieve you of this burden. They use secure systems for data storage, transmission, and backup, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with data protection regulations.

Utilise personnel effectively
Outsourcing payroll not only frees up staff members who were previously responsible for payroll tasks but contributes to increased overall productivity and efficiency within the organisation. Where you have capable and flexible staff, you can reutilise them in the business towards core business activities, strategic initiatives, or projects that contribute to company growth. Staff members are empowered to use their skills and expertise, leading to improved performance.

In many cases, businesses do not have a dedicated payroll team, and payroll becomes an additional task for someone to handle. This task is time-consuming and can detract from other important responsibilities. By outsourcing payroll, businesses alleviate this burden. It also enables employees to engage in tasks they enjoy, or ‘signed up for’ ultimately enhancing job satisfaction.

Expertise and knowledge: staying up to date with complex legislation
In most cases, it becomes the outsourced providers’ responsibility to stay updated with changing tax laws, labour regulations, and reporting requirements. They ensure your business stays compliant with these laws, reducing the risk of penalties or legal issues. PEOs and umbrellas take on all liabilities, so any compliance issues sit with them rather than you for complete peace of mind. When outsourcing to a payroll bureau or accountancy firm, check the service level agreement to understand their approach to liabilities.

Scalability and flexibility: adapting to business growth and seasonal fluctuations
Outsourcing payroll offers scalability to accommodate your business growth. It can be great if you have seasonal fluctuations in employee numbers. Whether you need to onboard new employees quickly or downsize your workforce, payroll providers can adapt to your changing needs. This flexibility helps maintain a smooth workflow without the need for significant adjustments to your processes or your headcount. Some providers may charge for this service, so this is something to check as part of your decision-making process.

Streamlined processes and efficient workflow management
By leveraging the expertise, automation, and technology offered by outsourced payroll providers, outsourcing payroll can streamline processes and create efficient workflow management. Benefits include simplifying payroll administration, automating tasks, minimising errors, providing accurate reporting, integrating with timekeeping systems and offering employee self-serve portals. This ultimately leads to increased efficiency.

Technology and automation: unlocking innovative solutions
Many outsourced payroll providers offer online portals or software that allow employees to access their payroll information, e.g. pay slips and P11Ds. This self-service feature reduces administrative work for businesses and empowers employees to manage their payroll-related information. It’s also helpful for employees to have this information in one place should they ever need it for proof of earnings, for example. You may also benefit from outsourcing payroll if handling employee queries around pay, and pensions is a concern for you.

 

Key Considerations for Choosing a Payroll Provider 

We’ve discussed the range of options available when it comes to outsourcing payroll and we’ve highlighted some of the key benefits. If you’re considering outsourcing your payroll, here are four key things to consider before making the transition:

Compliance and data security
As discussed, payroll involves handling sensitive employee information, so data security is paramount. Enquire about the payroll provider’s data security measures, such as encryption, access controls, backups, and compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR. Understand their protocols for data handling, confidentiality, and disaster recovery.

Service level agreements (SLAs) and support
An SLA outlines the level of service and performance commitments between you and the payroll provider. It defines key metrics, such as payroll processing accuracy, response times for enquiries, and issue resolution timelines. Carefully review the SLA to ensure that it aligns with your performance expectations and that the provider is accountable for meeting agreed-upon service levels.

Payroll issues can arise at any time, so it’s essential to understand the support availability offered by the provider. Determine their support hours and channels. Ideally, the provider should offer prompt and reliable support during your business hours to address any payroll-related concerns or questions that may arise. Evaluate their process for resolving issues, their escalation procedures, and the expertise of their support team. Consider how they handle employee queries, the availability of support channels, and the quality of their customer service in addressing employee concerns. Look for providers with multiple communication channels such as live chat and UK-based call centres. Self-service options for employers and employees can also enhance query handling.

Pricing models and cost-effectiveness
Evaluate the different pricing models offered by payroll providers, such as flat monthly fees or per-employee charges, and choose the one that aligns with your budget and business needs. Ensure the pricing structure is transparent, without any hidden costs or unexpected fees. Additionally, compare the cost of outsourcing payroll with the expenses associated with keeping it in-house, such as salaries, payroll software, employee training, tax regulation updates, and the time and effort required for payroll processing.

Assess the overall cost-effectiveness of outsourcing payroll by weighing the financial investment against the benefits gained, such as reduced administrative burden, improved accuracy, compliance expertise, and access to advanced payroll technology. Ultimately, selecting a payroll provider that offers a fair and transparent pricing model, while delivering cost-effective solutions, can contribute to the long-term success of your business.

The transition – implementation and change management
Understand the provider’s implementation process, data migration requirements, and security measures. Assess the training and support provided to ensure a smooth transition and thorough onboarding process.

Conclusion

Before deciding whether to keep a payroll function in-house or outsource it, it’s important to consider your business goal. A business priority is usually growth, so ask yourself do you have the dedicated staff resource for payroll management, and can they scale up rapidly. Is the person managing your payroll already wearing multiple hats? If so, this may spell disaster as soon as a mistake occurs or legislation changes. Are you confident in your process for handling pay queries to avoid an impact on staff retention? Do you have a training policy in place to ensure the payroll team is ahead of all payroll legislation?

Whether managing payroll in-house or outsourcing to specialised providers, organisations can streamline processes, reduce risks, and optimise their resources. By understanding the intricacies of the UK payroll system, evaluating the benefits of different approaches, and implementing best practices, businesses can ensure that their payroll department becomes a strategic asset, contributing to employee satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and overall business success.

Growth Partners’ payroll service

Growth Partners is a payroll provider and so much more. We own a payroll bureau so we have the expertise and scale required for outsourced payroll. We also provide the PEO model combining our expertise in payroll processing, pension auto-enrolment and employee engagement. Growth Partners is a great option if you are looking for a solution that takes on all liabilities with HMRC and The Pensions Regulator.

Our portal-based e-payslips mitigate the risk of data being intercepted with accredited data encryption. We use Amazon Web Services to host our sites, ensuring minimum downtime with extremely high levels of security.

We also provide:

  • A range of employee benefits including Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), private GP, pension guidance, and employee discounts.
  • A range of employer services, including free unlimited employment law support for the business, occupational health services and reduced rates with recruitment providers.
  • A dedicated employee engagement manager to help you and your employees most out of the services available.
  • Ongoing employee engagement consultation from our employee engagement experts so you have everything you need to not only ensure your employees are paid accurately and on time but are happy and healthy at work.

We provide all this at a flat rate of £2 per employee per week. And our new support payments offset this even further. Use our payroll cost-saving calculator to see how much you can save, or even earn by outsourcing your payroll to Growth Partners or book a demo here.

Pension auto-enrolment compliance
  • Amrik Birdi
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Ensuring pension auto-enrolment compliance: staying ahead of the curve

Ensuring pension auto-enrolment compliance: staying ahead of the curve 1280 720 Amrik Birdi

As a responsible employer in the UK, it’s crucial to comply with the pension auto-enrolment regulations. Whether you are a start-up or a well-established firm, staying up-to-date with the compliance legislation can be quite challenging, but failing to comply with the legal requirements can result in hefty fines and have damaging reputational consequences.

What is pension auto-enrolment compliance?

Pension auto-enrolment compliance is a legal requirement for employers in the UK to automatically enrol ‘eligible’ employees into a workplace pension scheme. The system was introduced in 2012 to address the growing problem of pension provision and encourage more workers to save for their retirement.

Under the scheme, employers are required to automatically enrol ‘eligible’ employees into a pension scheme, make a minimum contribution, and provide employees with information about the scheme and their rights. Employees do have the opportunity to opt out of the pension scheme if they wish.

The scheme aims to ensure that employees have the opportunity to save for their retirement in a workplace pension scheme, which can contribute to their financial security in later life.

 

Who needs to comply with pension auto-enrolment?

Employers of all sizes in the UK must comply with auto-enrolment regulations. This includes businesses, charities, and not-for-profit organisations. Additionally, even if you employ just one person, you are still required to comply.

Not all employees are classed as ‘eligible’ for auto-enrolment. To be automatically enrolled, an employee must meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 22 years old but below the state pension age,
  • Work in the UK,
  • Earn a minimum of £10,000 per year.

Employers must provide a workplace pension scheme for eligible employees and make contributions to their pension. However, employees have the option to opt out of the pension scheme if they wish.

 

List of key duties employers must fulfil for pension auto-enrolment compliance

Employers have a legal obligation to enrol eligible employees into a pension scheme and make contributions on their behalf. Non-compliant businesses may receive harsh penalties, so it’s essential to ensure compliance with pension auto-enrolment regulations.

1. Assess your workforce

Assess your workforce and determine which employees are eligible for auto-enrolment. Remember to monitor any new employees who become eligible for auto-enrolment as per the legislation.

2. Choose a pension scheme

Select a pension scheme that meets the minimum requirements for auto-enrolment. Evaluate the different options available in the market and choose one that’s suitable for your business and employees.

3. Communicate with your employees

Inform your employees about auto-enrolment, including who is eligible, how it works, and the benefits of being enrolled.

4. Set up payroll processes

  • Make sure your payroll process includes auto-enrolment.
  • Ensure that eligible employees are enrolled and contributions are made on their behalf.

5. Keep records

  • Maintain records to demonstrate that you’re complying with auto-enrolment legislation.
  • Keep records of contributions, opt-ins, opt-outs, and all communications with your employees.
  • Submit your Declaration of Compliance to The Pensions Regulator.
  • Carry out your ‘re-enrolment duties’ every three years. 

By following this checklist, you can ensure that your business meets pension auto-enrolment regulations.  

Each of these duties is critical for ensuring that your business fully complies with pension auto-enrolment regulations. Failure to fulfil any of these duties can result in costly consequences, such as:

  • Fines from The Pensions Regulator can range from £50 per day to £10,000 per day depending on the size of your business and the level of non-compliance.
  • Lawsuits from employees who were not enrolled in a qualifying pension scheme could result in significant payouts for your business.
  • Damage to your business’ reputation, as failure to comply with pension auto-enrolment may be viewed as a breach of trust with your employees.

Common auto-enrolment problems faced by employers:

Employers often face several common problems when implementing the scheme, including.

  • Difficulty in selecting a qualifying pension scheme.
  • Ensuring all eligible staff are enrolled in the scheme.
  • Calculating and processing contributions accurately and on time.
  • Managing opt-outs and opt-ins properly.
  • Keeping accurate records for reporting and compliance purposes.

If as an employer you fail to address these issues, you may face penalties for non-compliance.

 

Why pension auto-enrolment compliance should be a priority for your business in the UK

Pension auto-enrolment compliance is a legal obligation that applies to all businesses operating in the UK. Failure to comply with the regulations could lead to financial penalties and reputational damage for your business. Therefore, businesses must take pension auto-enrolment compliance seriously and ensure they fulfil their duties as employers. This will not only ensure compliance with the law but also provide employees with a valuable benefit for their future.

 

How we can help keep you compliant:

As you can see, ensuring auto-enrolment compliance is not a one-off task and does require allocating suitable and competent resources to ensure compliance with employer duties. 

All our clients benefit from our fully comprehensive and compliant pension solution. This includes:

  • Auto-enrolment processing and administration – you never have to worry about managing your employees’ pensions again.
  • We take on full responsibility for ensuring compliance with your auto-enrolment employer duties.
  • Your employees can speak to our in-house friendly experts to get one-to-one support and guidance on their workplace pensions. 
  • Online trackable pension pot for full visibility of the pension scheme. 

We will help you stay on top of your auto-enrolment employer duties and compliance, as well as help your employees engage with their pensions. Book a demo of our services or contact us to find out more.


Amrik Birdi, Pension Consultant and Head of Operations at Growth Partners

blankAmrik has a wealth of knowledge in pensions having joined Growth Partners from KPMG where he was responsible for advising companies and trustees on independent DC provider procurement exercises, DC investment strategy review, DC pensions strategy review, automatic enrolment compliance, and meeting ongoing governance requirements. Amrik spent three years before this as a Pensions Guidance Specialist at Pensions Wise helping members understand their pension and retirement options, empowering them to take control of their retirement journey. With a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and Certificate in DC Governance, combined with a Degree in Economics, Amrik is a fully qualified pensions consultant and able to offer strategic support to our clients on their options for workplace pension schemes and auto-enrolment.

New menopause support service
  • Growth Partners
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New service launched to support the fastest growing demographic in the workplace

New service launched to support the fastest growing demographic in the workplace 1920 1080 Growth Partners

A new service has been launched to support the fastest growing demographic in the workplace, menopausal women – who are at significantly higher risk of leaving their job due to the impact symptoms may have on their work.

Survey results from a study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development show 45% of women over the age of 45 feel menopausal symptoms have a negative impact on their work and 47% of women who need to take a day off work due to menopause symptoms don’t tell their employer the real reason for their absence.

In response to the issues and impact on the emotional wellbeing of employees, Growth Partners has launched a new menopause support service for its clients through the My SMART-e app.

Scott Read, CEO of employee services said:

“It’s our mission to make employers’ and employees’ lives happier, healthier, and easier and providing relevant wellbeing services is a big part of this.

“We’re proud to launch yet another resource to help employers support their employees’ physical and emotional wellbeing – which we know are crucial for decreasing absence rates, improving productivity, and ultimately achieving business growth.”

Scott added:

“It’s so important for employers to feel equipped to provide the support workers need to be happy and healthy at work. The menopause can also have an impact on family members and colleagues – so support services for them is key too.”

Growth Partners’ new menopause service is being added to the My SMART-e app from 17 July 2023 to give all registered users confidential, simple access to menopause support services – for themselves, a colleague, friend or loved one.

The new menopause support package includes:

  • Information and advice for those who are directly impacted by menopause including confidential 24/7 access to counselling and GP services.
  • Advice for managers to help create a supportive, flexible, and comfortable work environment including webinars and a free accredited training course.
  • Support for family, friends, and co-workers with signposting to recommended local and national services and support groups.

Menopause support services

How to access the new service

If you are a current Growth Partners client, your employees can access the menopause support services on their My SMART-e app. If you have any questions regarding the service, please contact your engagement manager. You can email Daniel.duggan@growthpartnersplc.co.uk or call 0116 340 3116

 Interested in benefiting from our services?

You can arrange a demo of the My SMART-e app and the new services, here or contact our growth experts

Growth Partners support package
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New support package launched

New support package launched 800 600 Growth Partners

We’ve launched a new support package to help businesses access support payments and tailored employee engagement advice.

We’re on a mission to make both employers’ and their employees’ lives easier, happier, and healthier and our new support package aims to provide what businesses really need in the current environment.

Register your interest

New support package – what’s included?

The new support package includes the following benefits for businesses:

  • A support payment per employee to invest in your business.
  • A dedicated employee engagement manager to work with leadership team and staff as an extra pair of hands.
  • Free ongoing employee engagement consultation to help businesses develop or improve their attraction and retention strategy.
Support payments 

The package includes payments of up to £4 per employee, per week. Businesses can invest their support payment as they see fit.

The support payments are designed to provide financial assistance to help you navigate challenges and stimulate growth. The payment is made per employee, so the more employees you have the larger the payment.

Some clients to already benefit have used the additional income to add life protection to the list of benefits they provide for their employees, and some have used it to fund more regular off-site team-building exercises to help address retention concerns.

>> Example case: A client with 300 employees is currently benefitting £16,200 per annum in additional income.

Dedicated employee engagement manager 

As part of our new support package, we’ll give you a dedicated employee engagement manager to help drive your employee engagement activities.

We’re a payroll provider and so much more… making sure your employees are paid correctly and on time is a huge part of employee engagement – but work is about much more than their pay.  Your dedicated employee engagement manager will help ensure your employees are aware of, and can access all the benefits available to them.

Improving employee engagement is essential when you’re looking to retain talented employees, enhance customer satisfaction, and ensure operational efficiencies.

Employee engagement ongoing consultation

We also provide free employee engagement consultations to help improve your employees’ level of engagement, motivation, and satisfaction.

We can take on the often-time-consuming task of analysing and understanding the current state of employee engagement within your organisation, to help identify areas for improvement, and develop a strategy to enhance engagement. We can provide surveys, or help facilitate focus groups, interviews, and data analysis to gather information about your employees’ attitudes, perceptions, and experiences. We can also help assess factors such as communication, leadership, organisational culture, work-life balance, career development opportunities, and recognition and rewards systems.

Based on the findings, we can work with you on an action plan to enhance employee engagement. The ultimate goal is to create a positive work environment that fosters employee satisfaction, commitment, productivity, and overall organisational success – so you can attract and retain great talent.

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Why have we launched the package? 

We are a payroll provider and so much more… we provide an end-to-end service for payroll, pensions, and employee engagement; for businesses this means reduced costs, reduced risks, and increased productivity, and for their employees it means access to their pay, pension, and employee benefits all in one place – so they have everything they need to be happy and healthy at work.

But if employers don’t have the cash or time to invest in their employee engagement services, the employee benefits can go to waste.

Interested in finding out more?

If you’d like to be sent more information about the support package and an idea of the support payments you could receive, you can request more information here.

Our payroll cost-saving calculator is designed to give you a free, no-obligation quote to help you understand how our fees compare to other costs you’ve been quoted elsewhere, or what you currently pay for similar services. Our new support package is factored in too – so the calculation is a true reflection of how we can help improve your bottom line and generate additional income for your business while supporting you to attract and retain great staff.

If you’re looking to outsource your payroll or switch your outsourced payroll you can get a no-obligation quote here or get in touch with our experts for a demo of our services.

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  • Growth Partners
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Are you overpaying to outsource your payroll?

Are you overpaying to outsource your payroll? 1920 1221 Growth Partners

We’ve developed a new online payroll cost-saving calculator to help businesses understand if they are overpaying for their payroll.

If you’re overpaying to outsource your payroll, you’d like to know, right? So, our payroll experts have created an easy-to-use online calculator to help businesses ensure they’re getting value for money.

How much do businesses pay to outsource their payroll?

When it comes to outsourced payroll, many payroll providers have bespoke pricing – with several factors affecting the price such as:

  • Number of employees
  • Pension auto-enrolment processing
  • Frequency of payroll
  • Additional integrated services

The payroll fee varies between providers and can often decrease the more employees you have. So, if you have 300 employees, for example, some payroll providers could charge you £6 per employee per month, but if you have 30 employees, they may charge you £10 per employee per month.

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It’s important to also consider any added extra costs for administering pension auto-enrolment or processing ad-hoc payments such as maternity pay or sick pay, for example. Also, be sure to check the terms and conditions regarding processing furlough payments or similar which had a huge impact on payroll providers in 2020.

 

Who’s liable for compliance with HMRC when you outsource payroll?

When outsourcing to a traditional payroll provider, you will find they will process your payroll for you, but your business will still be 100% liable for their work and compliance with HMRC. So, any errors leading to fines will still be billed to you.

This, however, isn’t the case with all payroll providers, so be sure to ask. At Growth Partners, we take on full responsibility for compliance with HMRC requirements, so all our clients outsource both processing and the liabilities to us.

 

What happens to pension auto-enrolment employer duties when you outsource payroll?

Most, if not all, payroll software has a pension auto-enrolment module to help payroll providers carry out the auto-enrolment assessment. However, like payroll, compliance with your pension auto-enrolment employer duties sit squarely with the employer even when the payroll provider you have outsourced your payroll to agrees to administer the duties on your behalf.

With Growth Partners, you won’t need to worry about compliance with your auto-enrolment employer duties again – our dedicated pensions team will take full ownership and responsibility for compliance with your auto-enrolment duties.

 

My finance team process payroll, why would I outsource my payroll?

Outsourcing payroll to a qualified and professional payroll service can reduce the costs and risks involved in payroll management. It also allows you to use your resource better – instead of processing payroll and keeping on top of complex payroll regulatory requirements and constant updates, your finance team is free to focus on business objectives and corporate goals.

 

How much do we charge for outsourced payroll services?

We charge a flat rate of £2 per employee, per week. This doesn’t change regardless of how many employees you have, or your payroll frequency. We also don’t want to bill our customers every time they ask for help, so one fee covers everything.

One fee covers everything

We provide an end-to-end service for payroll, pension and employee engagement services, so our flat-rate fee covers so much more than just outsourced payroll…

 

Payroll services

  • A guarantee that all your employees are paid accurately, on time
  • Full compliance with HMRC regulations
  • 24/7 online access to pay documents for your employees

Pension services 

  • All auto-enrolment administration – never worry about managing your employees’ pensions again
  • We take on full responsibility for ensuring compliance with your auto-enrolment duties
  • Our in-house pensions team handle all auto-enrolment communications and administration duties

Wellbeing services

  • Financial wellbeing services for your employees including support and guidance for your employees on their workplace pensions
  • Emotional wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with access to professional, confidential counselling services in-person, online or by phone
  • Physical wellbeing for your employees including 24/7 access to a GP

Employee discounts

  • The latest range of benefits and discounts for your employees to help make their wages go further. 

Employment law service for employers

  • Unlimited phone and email advice from a dedicated HR law consultant
  • Support to draft bespoke items of correspondence
  • Review and preparation of contractual HR documentation
  • On-site assistance in a crisis
  • Tribunal preparation and representation

Employee engagement support

We give all our clients their own dedicated employee engagement manager to help

  • Employee engagement consultancy strategy for employer/employees
  • Ongoing support from a dedicated engagement specialist 
  • Employee engagement support payment designed to help you invest in your employee engagement activities

Get a quote

We know from research employees want easy access to their pay documents. Online access to pay slips, receiving pay earlier than payday, and an online chat to sort out pay issues are the most sought-after financial benefits.

77% of employees would use employee engagement services more if they were all in one place, like an app. With our all-in-one solution, your employees can access their pay, pension, and employee benefits all in one place.

See how much you can save, or even earn with our new cost-saving calculator – get a quote here

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New payroll calculator reveals how much businesses can save – or even earn

New payroll calculator reveals how much businesses can save – or even earn 1080 1080 Growth Partners

We’ve launched a campaign to highlight the benefits of regularly checking how much you’re paying suppliers for outsourced services such as payroll, pensions auto-enrolment, employee benefits, employment law support etc. Seven in ten UK businesses outsource services to third parties (YouGov 2019) 

Our new cost-saving calculator

We’ve developed a new cost-saving calculator to help businesses understand if they are overpaying for their outsourced payroll and other outsourced services. Our new online tool also calculates how much businesses will get from us in employee engagement support payments available – giving them a true reflection of how we may be able to help improve their bottom line.

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Amrik Birdi, our Head of Operations said:

“Many payroll providers have variable charges and charge extra for auto-enrolment processing, whereas our £2 per employee per week is a flat rate fee – which is great value for money. And this includes a range of employee engagement services too.

What we offer truly is a full end-to-end service for payroll, pensions, and employee engagement as we’re focused on helping businesses reduce costs and ensure compliance so they can grow.”

Scott Read, CEO of Employee Services added:

“We don’t want to bill our customers every time they ask for help, one fee covers everything. And the employee engagement support payment we give companies can make a big difference to their bottom line. We’re adding new services all the time to ensure our all-in-one solution for payroll, pension and employee engagement services can really help businesses thrive.”

A payroll provider and so much more

The payroll cost-saving calculator is designed to give you a free, no-obligation quote to help you understand how our fees compare to other costs you’ve been quoted. Specialising in providing an end-to-end service for payroll, pensions, and employee engagement, our new employee engagement support payment is factored in too, so the calculator is a true reflection of how we can help improve your bottom line.

Interested in switching payroll providers?

If you’re looking to outsource your payroll or switch your outsourced payroll you can get a no-obligation quote here or get in touch with our experts for a demo of our services.

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How New Forest Hotels improved benefits to employees while also improving payroll efficiencies

How New Forest Hotels improved benefits to employees while also improving payroll efficiencies 1152 1152 Growth Partners

The New Forest collection is made up of hotels, restaurants, and a pub all in the heart of the New Forest providing visitors with access to the breathtaking location. Employing a large workforce from chefs to receptionists, they were looking for ways to attract the very best talent.

The hospitality industry has been impacted by the pandemic and has since faced a huge candidate shortage on top of rising supply costs and decreased demand due to the cost-of-living crisis.

“We were originally looking for a professional payroll company to help with the administration of processing payments to our staff, Growth Partners presented the My SMART-e app to us and we loved it. They provide an all-in-one solution so little did we know they were able to help us in other areas of the business too.”

We’re working with New Forest Hotels to:

1. Streamline payroll processing

Reducing the load on their finance team and relieving them from the burden of keeping on top of pension auto-enrolment for a large, changeable workforce.

2. Support employee financial, physical and emotional wellbeing

By giving their staff access to thousands of employee discounts plus confidential emotional and physical wellbeing benefits – all in the same place where they access their pay documents.

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“Our payroll team had been processing payroll and pension auto-enrolments for many years with employees on varying contracts, we knew there was an easier, more efficient way to do it. Growth Partners took on the payroll responsibilities – and it was seamless. The transition was fantastic and the service, exceptional.

So, our employees can now access their pay and pension documents as well as a range of discounts (which has helped them financially in these uncertain times) plus an online GP, health checks and much more via their secure My SMART-e app. Our staff love it – it’s been really well received, and we see it as a huge benefit, not only to our current employees but when attracting additional staff too.”

Do you need help streamlining your payroll process or bringing services together all in one place?

We provide employers across all sectors with a cost-effective end-to-end service for payroll, pensions and employee engagement services. If your workforce could benefit from their pay, pension and employee benefits all in one place, book your no-obligation demo of My SMART-e here.

Did you know? We provide all our clients with an employee engagement support payment and a dedicated employee engagement manager. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you to reduce costs, attract and retain employees, increase productivity and ensure compliance.

Outsourcing payroll
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6 things to consider when researching outsourced payroll providers

6 things to consider when researching outsourced payroll providers 1280 729 Growth Partners

Whether you’re considering outsourcing your company’s payroll for the first time or looking to switch outsourced payroll providers, it’s important to do your research regarding how to outsource payroll.

A recent YouGov study reported a quarter of businesses believe managing payroll requires too much of their time and affects their overall business performance.

If you’re looking to grow your business, outsourcing your payroll is a great step towards unburdening yourself from the administrative headache of keeping up with legislative changes and the expectation that you have all the answers to your employees’ payroll and pension queries.

Should I outsource payroll?

Outsourced payroll providers can also save you money and minimise the risk to your business if you choose the right provider.

In this post, we’ll discuss six important things to consider when finding out how to outsource payroll:

1. Choose a specialist outsourced payroll provider

There are so many payroll providers to choose from – from specialist outsourced payroll providers and payroll companies to HR companies and accountants.

The accountancy firm that you use for your accounts may be great at accounts, but are they specialists in payroll? If you’re using your accountant for payroll administration or are considering doing so, ask them about their expertise in payroll. Chances are, they might not actually enjoy payroll processing and may prefer to focus on your accounts, which is where their specialism lies. Some accountancy firms will actually outsource your payroll to a payroll specialist, so this is also something to consider.

2. Check the outsourced payroll provider is fully compliant with HMRC and The Pensions Regulator

Payroll compliance can be a headache if you’re not a specialist in this area. To comply with Government regulations, you must make accurate payments and deductions, provide employees with detailed payslips, file and pay all taxes on time, pay deductions such as pension payments to the right places and keep hold of records for a minimum of three years.

Pension compliance can also be difficult to keep on top of. Under the Pensions Act 2008, you must put staff into a workplace pension scheme and contribute towards it. Pension auto-enrolment is an important thing to get right, as is pension re-enrolment. Check with the UK outsourced payroll provider whether they will handle all the administration of this for you.

How do you know how your chosen pension fund is performing; when was the last time you reviewed the performance of your pension auto-enrolment fund?

3. Ensure transparency

Outsourcing your payroll is not a decision to take lightly – after all, you’re talking about the hard-earned wages of your employees. A seamless transition is best for both you and your employees, so look for a specialist provider who can handle the transition expertly and efficiently.

Ask to see the full process from end-to-end, ask to see their security credentials and how they keep your data safe and check how they’re set up to handle any significant changes to payroll, such as the job retention scheme. These are all things which YOU will be liable for if THEY get wrong, so it’s best to check these from the outset.

4. How much input will be required from your finance team?

Unburdening your finance team is a great reason to outsource your payroll. Finance managers are a fantastic asset, and freeing up their time is a win for small businesses. Payroll and pension administration is process heavy and takes a lot of time and accuracy – take the headache away from them, and they will be available to help you grow your business.

Using specialist outsourced payroll providers may also reduce the number of staff you need to recruit to your finance team to administer payroll and pension payments, therefore helping to reduce your fixed costs. A fully outsourced specialist payroll provider will also take care of the administration of new starters and leavers.

The main thing to make sure of here is that you outsource to a specialist who requires minimal interventions from your finance team – otherwise, you could end up giving your finance team an even bigger headache.

5. What do you get for your money?

You will find most payroll providers charge a set amount per employee to administer payroll, but check what added value you get.

  • Do they provide any other services for your employees?
  • Do they provide online 24/7 access to pay documents via an app?
  • Do they provide UK-based customer service support to answer your employees’ payroll issues?
  • Are they GDPR compliant?

These are important questions to ask to help you choose the best value payroll provider for you.

6. Will outsourced payroll providers give you peace of mind?

Check if compliance with HMRC and The Pensions Regulator still sits with you. If it does, you may be reducing your fixed costs and saving some money, but you may not feel you have complete peace of mind.

If the compliance still sits with you, this means the payroll providers will administer a company’s payroll and pensions, but ultimately the company directors are still responsible for the payroll providers’ actions and any compliance issues.

Our payroll and pension services

We’re proud to offer a fully outsourced specialist payroll and pension service with the following benefits:

As payroll specialists, we deliver our payroll and pension solutions as part of the SMART Employment model, which costs as little as 30p per day. SMART Employers have more time to focus on business growth, experience increased profitability through reduced costs, increased performance, and have complete peace of mind for themselves and their employees.

If you’d like to know more about outsourced payroll through our SMART Employment model, contact us for a free, no-obligation demonstration of the process and our added value services with one of our payroll and pension consultants.

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