Partner Article

Cintra host National User Conference

Delegates at Cintra HR and Payroll Services first ever National User Conference on Thursday 2nd February heard how Government planned changes to pensions and Real Time Information tax collection will affect all employers in the UK over the next few years.

Starting with the UK’s largest employers, from October onwards new duties are being introduced that will impact most employers in the UK over the next few years. Employers will have to automatically enrol some or all of their workers into a qualifying scheme that meets certain minimum standards and pay contributions on their behalf. NEST is a qualifying scheme that any employer can use to meet their new duties.

Seated high in Newcastle University’s superb new Business School with a splendid view over the City, delegates from around the UK gathered to hear Nigel Pettinger, Director of Customer Services at NEST, the National Employment Savings Trust, who comments:

“There is confusion and misunderstanding surrounding workplace pension changes, the Cintra Conference provided a fantastic opportunity for employers to learn more about workplace pension reform and understand how to prepare.”

“Depending on the size of their organisation, employers will be in different states of preparedness, but we expect that the vast majority of employers will face similar decisions and activities, although on differing scales. Preparation isn’t just about choosing a compliant arrangement, it’s about the mechanics of implementing the changes. This includes organising your data and systems, and telling your workers about what’s happening. The Cintra conference provided a starting block for employers to learn about the changes and understand how NEST can help them along the way.”

Delegates also heard from Ken Gurr, Education Director of The Learn Centre, of major plans to change the way National Insurance and PAYE contributions are collected and reported. The Real Time Information scheme is due for implementation in the next 18 months. Due to low publicity there is currently little awareness of the major impact this will have on all employers in the UK.

James Wilders, a Senior Partner at Dickinson Dees, provided a highly informative review of recent and planned changes in employment law.

Delegates included many of Cintra’s clients from around the UK, including major names such as Hiscox Syndicates, the major London insurance brokers, and Universal Sodexho, world leaders in food and facilities management, together with many others from the Education, Housing and private sectors.

Chris Tidy, Payroll Manager of Hiscox Syndicates commented, “I really enjoyed the first Cintra user conference. It was a great opportunity to meet all the team and discuss system developments with the experts. It was also a great networking opportunity and the speakers were of a very high standard. All the team made us feel really welcome and I look forward to this becoming an annual event.”

Cintra was very pleased to welcome its key business partners in the North East; Dickinson Dees, Allied Irish Bank and its long time financial advisors RMT, together with Vicky Moss, Associate Director of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, the qualifying authority for many of Cintra’s professional staff.

Carsten Staehr, Cintra’s CEO, outlined its plans for the future and highlighted the close links it has with tax, pension and other authorities. Links like these allow Cintra and its customers to be well ahead in preparing for the changes to come. Many Cintra clients are already involved in pre-trial schemes for RTI.

Carsten also showcased Cintra iQ, the new, fully integrated HR and Payroll system whose recent release is proving so popular with its unique deployment options leading the way for the industry.

All agreed this first National Conference was informative, useful and enjoyable. Cintra hope to make it a regular annual event and use it to showcase one of the great success stories of the North East.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nham Lee .