The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has launched a series of business sector compliance visits by focusing on the recruitment industry.

These visits are the first in a series of in-depth fact finding visits to business sectors that may face auto enrolment compliance challenges.

The regulator said that the visits demonstrate how it will use direct intervention to ensure employers comply with their statutory duties and help establish a pro compliance culture.

Executive director of automatic enrolment Charles Counsell said: "These visits were very positive and employers were willing to engage with us and tell us about their experiences. Engaging directly in this way helps us to get a good understanding of the issues faced by this sector and use what we learn to help others in the industry.

"Over the coming months we will be carrying out more visits to employers in other sectors where we have identified potential compliance challenges. We want to ensure any problems they face are addressed in good time and that they do not run the risk of non compliance - which can come at a cost."

TPR said that the recruitment sector faces "significant" compliance challenges and that it was particularly important to target because more than 1,000 recruitment employers are due to reach their staging date between April and July next year.

The visits were made to prevent and tackle possible breaches, and as a result from the visits TPR will be issuing compliance guidance tailored for the recruitment sector.

Recruitment and employment confederation (REC) head of policy Kate Shoesmith said: "Recruiters want to be compliant and the REC is pleased that TPR recognises the additional barriers that recruiters face and is working with the industry to address these issues.

"The process does not lend itself easily to an atypical workforce and recruiters have had to work hard to ensure that their businesses are ready for automatic enrolment.

"Over the last 12 months, many recruiters have successfully dealt with the challenges that the industry has faced and we will continue to work with the regulator to ensure that the remaining recruiters who are yet to reach their staging date are supported through the process."

TPR also said that employers must make sure that their chosen pension scheme and software provider can meet their needs and that they should start preparing for automatic enrolment between 12 to 18 months before their staging date.

First published 20.11.2013

monique_simpson@wilmington.co.uk