Pensions and Financial Wellbeing

Secure your employees’ financial future

We believe that a thriving business starts with a secure and engaged workforce. Investing in a workplace pension isn’t just about meeting your legal obligations, it’s a powerful way to show your commitment to your employees’ long-term financial wellbeing. When employees feel financially secure, they are more engaged, productive, and committed, which helps attract and retain top talent.

The benefits of a great workplace pension

Drives retention and attraction.

A competitive pension helps to attract and retain top talent, enhancing employee satisfaction and loyalty.

Ensures compliance and efficiency.

Regular reviews keep your pension scheme compliant with regulations and cost-effective for your business.

Strengthens scheme governance.

Strong oversight ensures your pension scheme is well-managed, compliant and delivers the best value for employees.

Improves retirement outcomes for members.

Reviewing investment strategies and contributions helps employees achieve better retirement savings and plan for their financial future.

Manages costs and maximises value.

Managing pension costs effectively ensures you maximise employer contributions while maintaining a sustainable, high-value scheme.

Expert support every step of the way

Managing a workplace pension scheme can be complex. That’s why our dedicated consultants offer expert guidance and practical solutions backed by extensive real-world experience. We work closely with you to develop tailored benefits strategies that drive growth, empower your workforce, and reflect your unique company culture.

Our services

Pension Consultancy

We’re your strategic partner in helping you maximise the value of the pension scheme you offer. From day one, we’re here to ensure that your employees are getting the most from their pensions, right up to retirement.

We’ll work closely with you to understand your business, your workforce, and your goals. Our support is hands-on, personal, and always focused on making your pension strategy as effective and employee centred as possible. We’re here to guide you through changes in law and regulations, ensuring your pension scheme works for everyone.

Governance: Going Beyond the Basics

Our governance framework ensures that your pension provider isn’t just meeting your goals – they're exceeding them. We keep a sharp eye on everything: contribution levels, provider competitiveness, and much more. We’re not about ticking boxes – we’re about ensuring your pension offering is the best it can be.

And we’re not afraid to ask the questions: Is your provider performing well? Is your pension plan truly competitive and serving your employees’ needs? We keep you ahead of the curve.

Salary Exchange: A Win-Win for All

Pension salary exchange is a smart, tax-efficient way to contribute to your pension scheme while saving on National Insurance (NIC). Employees agree to reduce their gross salary by the amount of their pension contribution, and you pay it directly into their pension scheme. The result? Lower income tax and NIC for employees and savings on employer NIC.

We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why we’ll work with you to review your workforce demographics and ensure salary exchange makes sense for your business. We’ll help you communicate the changes clearly, so everyone is on the same page.

Guide to Salary Exchange

Guide to Salary Exchange - Getting the most from your workplace pension

Employers can offer employees a salary exchange pension, sometimes called a salary sacrifice pension, which can help employees, and employers, save money on National Insurance (NI) contributions and avoid the need for higher rate tax payers to claim higher rate tax relief.

Provider Market Review: Ensuring Your Pension Provider Meets Your Changing Needs

Choosing the right pension provider is key. But what happens when it’s time to reassess? Whether it’s been a while since your last review, the market has shifted, or service quality has dipped, we’re here to help you consider your options.

We take an independent approach to finding the right provider for your business. We’ll get to know your goals and timelines, dive deep into the market, and lead you through every step of the selection process. We make it simple, ensuring a smooth transition and ongoing success.

Employee Engagement: Empowering Your Team

We know that empowering your employees to take charge of their pension plans is key to their financial success. Whether they’re just starting or nearing retirement, we offer everything from educational workshops to one-on-one guidance, ensuring they have the support they need every step of the way.

Our goal is to transform pensions from a ‘chore’ into a source of empowerment. By helping employees engage with their workplace pension, we enable them to make informed decisions and feel confident about their financial future.

Financial Wellbeing: More Than Just Retirement

Financial wellbeing is about more than saving for retirement. It’s about making sure your employees feel secure, in control, and ready for whatever life throws at them.

Our financial wellbeing service can help your employees manage their daily expenses, plan for the unexpected, and take charge of their financial future with confidence.

We’ll work with you to create personalised solutions that meet your workforce’s needs, offering everything from budgeting advice to investment planning, we can provide support with:

  • Savings
  • Debt management
  • Mortgages and financial planning (link out to the page)

Communication: Making Pensions Easy to Understand

Pensions can seem confusing. But that doesn’t mean they have to be a barrier to engagement. Our in-house communication team will work with you to create messages that are clear, concise, and tailored to your employees’ needs. Whether they’re new to the scheme or nearing retirement, we ensure everyone feels informed and confident about their retirement planning.

We’ll help you craft the right communication strategy – from educational workshops to regular updates – making pensions less intimidating and more engaging.

Auto-Enrolment: Getting it Right

Auto-enrolment is not just about signing up eligible employees – it’s about ensuring your scheme is set up correctly and stays compliant. If you’re looking to revisit your auto-enrolment process, we’re here to help.

Our specialist audit service ensures everything’s in place. If we find any issues, we’ll work with you to resolve them, helping you stay compliant while streamlining the process for your business and employees.

New Company Set-Up: Starting Strong

Setting up a pension scheme for the first time can be overwhelming. But with our expert guidance, you’ll navigate the entire process with confidence. We’ll help you design a pension plan that fits your business, select the right provider, and ensure compliance with all regulations.

No matter your company’s size, we’ll tailor the solution to meet your needs. With ongoing support and updates, we’ll help you establish a pension scheme that works for both your business and your employees, securing their financial future.

Pensions

Let’s Build the Future Together

At Howden Employee Benefits, we believe that investing in your people is investing in your future. We’re here to help you create a pension strategy that not only meets legal requirements but supports your business growth, empowers your employees, and secures their financial future.

Ready to energise your workplace pension? Let’s get started today.