David Laking Honorary Fellow CIPP 2 November 1941 – 27 September 2022
Gordon Creswell FCIPP reflects on the career of one of the great influencers in the development of the payroll industry
I n 1984, Trevor Lakin (co-founder of the CIPP), motivated by the public sector body, the Association of Payroll and Superannuation Administrators’ (APSA’s) refusal to admit private sector members, asked his boss, David Laking of Peterborough Software, if the company would set up a private sector payroll association. David declined on the grounds it may be seen as a marketing ploy by Peterborough Software but agreed they would support such a venture. This was a pivotal decision for our organisation. At that time, Peterborough Software was developing into the leading and most successful payroll software house of the 80s and 90s. David provided access to marketing, administration resource, finance and personally gave Trevor guidance on how to become a company secretary, a role David then held for Peterborough Software. Only those of us around at the time can fully appreciate, not only the importance of this, but also the the impetus generated by David’s personal guidance to those of us striving to get the organisation off the ground. Because Peterborough Software provided sponsorship, other software houses began to see the benefits and opportunities of becoming involved with the payroll movement. This led, among other things, to the prestigious industry awards given each year at the CIPP Annual Excellence Awards dinner. Later, when Trevor suggested to me that he and I set up in business, I remember thinking that maybe we could be like David. I worked in local government at the time and Trevor worked in sales
Africa and Paris. In 1996, The Independent newspaper reported that Peterborough Software was the clear market leader, with 73 of the top 100 companies and 20% of the UK working population paid through its systems. Also, in 1996, the company was launched on the stock exchange as part of The Rebus Group. David became the main voice of the company with the press and proved very popular with both the nationals and vertical publications including: ● The Times ● Financial Times ● Telegraph ● Computing ● Computer News ● Computer Weekly ● Personnel Management. The journalists liked David’s open approach and always knew they would get an accurate and honest opinion, which would ultimately result in a decent quote for them. It was during this period that the Rebus Group became the largest software house in Europe, which was certainly no mean feat and probably the pinnacle point for the group. In February 1999, Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic Partners bought the Rebus Group and David remained as managing director of Peterborough Software until he retired. Always a meticulous planner, he called Trevor shortly before his death to ask him to prepare his eulogy, typical of the man to plan to the end … and beyond. We, at the CIPP, wish his wife, Margaret, well for the future and many of us remember a man of distinction with fondness and gratitude.
and training for David’s company. I had undertaken freelance training for David and had met him several times, always impressed by his clarity of thought and conclusive decision making. I happened to be in his office on the day that Peterborough Software featured on the front pages of the national papers because they were held responsible for the non-payment of staff at a London borough. David explained that the truth was his staff had worked round the clock to meet a very unrealistic deadline. But the borough staff had been working to rule on a nine-to-five basis and consequently work hadn’t been signed off, leading to the payroll failure. I asked if he would be issuing a press release to correct the facts. “No,” he said, “that would keep it in the papers and people may not believe it. I am going to throw resources at it and put it right so that when we are pitching for contracts and we are asked about it, I will say just ask the borough and they will have to say that they had problems, but Peterborough Software sorted it.” I remembered these wise words throughout my business career. David always supported the CIPP Graduation Ceremonies financially, but more importantly, by also making inspirational and supportive speeches to the assembled graduates and dignitaries, always praising our efforts but never mentioning his role. David started with Peterborough Software in 1972 as employee number five. Success followed success and David became the managing director, growing it to over 500 employees in the UK with offices in Australia, New Zealand, South
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 86 | December 2022 – January 2023
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