Act early and avoid auto enrolment headaches
Getting the experts in early is the key to meeting the many demands auto enrolment brings, says Jackie Hulme.
She is the Financial Controller at Lancashire based electrical engineering group Edward Dewhurst Limited.
The long-established, Preston-based family company brought in the expert team at ARW Enrol to ensure its staging date went smoothly.
ARW set to work setting up meetings with staff, ensuring the right procedures were put in place to comply with the legislation – and importantly, sourcing the right pension provider for the company.
The result was a smooth, headache-free process for Jackie and her team and a workplace pension that delivers exactly what is needed for the company, which has a workforce of almost 60.
Jackie says: “There is no doubt auto enrolment looks a daunting process at first, but Alex took away the headaches and ensured everything went smoothly.
“My advice to all firms would be to get the experts in early. The more time they have to work with you before your staging date, the easier it is to ensure everything that needs to be done, gets done.
“You may think the date is a long way off, but it soon appears on the horizon. It’s really important you don’t leave it too late and restrict your opportunities to get the right pension provider for you.”
Jackie added: “But auto enrolment isn’t just about meeting the staging date. Alex and ARW were brilliant in helping to put in place procedures to ensure we can manage the ongoing process correctly and effectively.”
“AWR did a great job of managing and coordinating the whole auto enrolment process for us. It just took any headaches away.”
“For instance, we had an existing pension scheme that wasn’t compatible with the new workplace one. ARW sorted that out, giving the staff affected individual advice.
“Auto enrolment is a challenge and it does mean more work, but it is a lot easier when you know what you are doing. Bringing in ARW gave us the confidence and the knowledge we needed to comply with the legislation.”
Auto enrolment is just the latest challenge successfully met by Edward Dewhurst Limited during its long and distinguished history.
It was founded in 1887 by Edward Dewhurst, grandfather of the present chairman and great grandfather of the current joint managing directors John and Paul Dewhurst.
For more than 100 years the company has been committed to building a solid reputation within the electrical engineering industry.
Based on Chain Caul Way on Preston’s Riversway Docklands, its work includes electrical engineering, medium voltage design and installation, airfield services, solar power solutions and building refurbishment.