How Employee Value Propositions helped DirectLine Group be a great place to work

Can choosing the right outsourced payroll provider really boost cost savings, productivity, and your employer brand? David McCormack CEO of HIVE360, investigates.
The commercial landscape is full of challenges around people, cost pressures, digitisation, compliance and risk, auto-enrolment, changing tax and employment legislation, the admin burden, cost of living, employee engagement, health and wellbeing, and changing working patterns, which can drain productivity, and be onerous for businesses.
Payroll is a priority for good employment experience and operational efficiency. Accuracy, compliance, agility, and flexibility are key, because the costs of getting it wrong are huge – it can damage an employee relationship, and a business’ reputation.
Traditional outsourced payroll models involve only the processing, but new and progressive models build-in risk and responsibility-sharing that focus on commercial impacts, address the increasing pressure on costs, and factor in a richer, beneficial employee experience.
Adding payroll to an outsourcing strategy really can reduce costs, boost productivity, improve employer brand, and support recruitment and retention.
A legitimate outsourced payroll provider guarantees delivery of accurate, on time, and compliant worker pay, but specifically look for one that:
There have been several tax avoidance and unscrupulous models of payroll that have left temporary workers financially penalised.
New guidelines evidence the government’s drive to encourage businesses to examine the supply chain with comprehensive, regular due diligence to ensure they work with only fully compliant and ethical payroll providers.
Full outsourcing of payroll has been commonplace in the recruitment sector for many years, with the reduction in downtime and streamlining of business processes cited as benefits.
Unscrupulous payroll providers are not uncommon. Known as Mini Umbrella Companies (MUC), these put a business at risk, so look out for red flags a company is a MUC:
Premiere Recruitment specialises in GLAA-regulated sectors including food processing and agriculture, with an average 250 workers on its weekly payroll. It has outsourced payroll since its launch in 2021.
“Payroll has to be run on time, accurately and compliantly, or it’s catastrophic,” says the company’s Director, Leon Vickers. “Handing payroll over to another organisation is terrifying, but ideal for busy businesses. For us, working with a legitimate, reputable provider has improved efficiency, saves money, gives peace of mind, and frees-up time and headspace to focus on the business.
“There are loads of payroll providers out there, and investing in comprehensive due diligence up front is vital to get the right one. Ask for references, evidence of HMRC compliance, and the latest audit. Talk to other businesses about who they use for payroll, check-out online reviews, and ask for proof the provider understands your sector and relevant legislation. Meet their team to establish the business is reliable, has robust systems and processes, the knowledge and resource to act and respond, and that payroll is in the right format for you.”
“It’s reassuring knowing we have payroll professionals on board,” says Patricia Hay, founder of First Base Employment, who has outsourced payroll for over 20 years. “Trust comes over time, but before selecting a payroll provider, get evidence they have excellent communication tools, secure technology, satisfied customers, and value openness and transparency.
“Take time to understand how each provider adds value,” she says. “Employee support is so important, and if this is part of the outsourced payroll provider’s solution, it’s one to embrace - it’s rewarding to be able to give our whole team access to counsellors and GPs, and tools that help with the cost of living.”
David McCormack is CEO of HIVE360, which provides expert, compliant and reliable PAYE payroll support and comprehensive employment administration, and its customisable Engage Employee Benefits app as standard. He has over 20 years’ experience as a director within the recruitment sector and over 15 years running payroll businesses.
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