MEMBERSHIP INSIGHT
Creating a profession
This article sets out the instrumental role George Powell played in the foundation of the Institute, and includes a summary of the interview conducted for this magazine. It serves to confirm that one motivated person can bring about extraordinary change
E arlier this year the CIPP invited guest. George’s visit was a perfect day, fittingly acknowledging the initiative he took that over time led to the formation of the CIPP. George left his mark on colleagues within Goldfinger House, as the celebratory atmosphere surrounding his visit was uplifting. That one man’s input from just one letter could have resulted in the Chartered Institute we revere today is both stimulating and humbling. Well done, George – we salute you. George Powell, age 89, to visit the Institute’s office in Solihull as their
The interview with George Tell us about your working life On leaving national service I joined Liverpool Corporation salaries and wages section in 1948. I was a twenty-year old clerk, and there were over twenty payroll staff. I just did my job like the other four or five lads doing the ‘donkey work’. I manually completed payslips by copying entries from some sheets of paper. I remember being strongly told off for making 4s and Xs look the same. Fortunately, a pay clerk spotted one error – paying a bus driver £4 for a week’s work was unheard of then. I used to go out and
pay staff from the money contained in a large tin.
...George – we salute you
I moved around working on various Corporation costs centres looking after wages and accounting and some years later accepted the role of managing the wages and salaries section for the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive. I had a rule that I would deal with any employee getting abusive when complaining about their wages. There was a large wages sheet for each employee, with entries across the top, which were operated ‘negatively’ unless there was a change. The local tax office was local to the Corporation’s offices and the Inspector was very helpful to me. We’d have a meeting monthly. What motivated you to prompt formation of APSA? My accounting colleagues used to steer clear of payroll, and there was little in the way of help for payroll. The only help I got
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | September 2017 | Issue 33 8
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