EDITOR Lora Murphy MCIPPdip editor@cipp.org.uk ADVERTISING
Editor’s comment
Daniel Cull and Lexi Evans commercial@cipp.org.uk DESIGN James Bartlett and Nicole Davis PRINTING Redactive
Hello, and welcome to this extra-special celebratory issue of Professional , where we shine a spotlight on the incredible work that you, the pay professionals , carry out every day. This is one of my favourite times of year, as we’re still on a high from the brilliant National Payroll Week and Annual Conference and Exhibition events. Over the coming pages, you’ll be able to see some of the highlights and celebrate the achievements of our fantastic pay community. While we’re still in such a positive and energised mood, now is the perfect time to think about how we can go even further in continuing to elevate the pay professions, by championing the value of what we do and demonstrating the difference we make to our wider businesses and their people.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jason Davenport FCIPP MloD CIPP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stuart Hall MCIPPdip Dianne Hoodless MSc ChFCIPP FHEA
Ana Laiu MSc FCIPPdip Brendan Mulkern FCIPP Michelle Sutton ChMCIPPdip
Celebration gives us an opportunity to recognise how far we’ve come, but elevation is about looking ahead and asking ourselves what more we can achieve together. I hope you enjoy this special issue, and I’d love to hear your own stories of celebration and elevation across the pay professions. Please get in touch with me using the details below. Your story could feature in the pages of a future issue of Professional .
Cliff Vidgeon BA (Hons) CMA ACG ChFCIPP Clare Warrington MSc FCIPPdip AFHEA
USEFUL CONTACTS
Consultancy consultancy@cipp.org.uk 0121 712 1044 Events team events@cipp.org.uk 0121 712 1013 General enquiries enquiries@cipp.org.uk 0121 712 1000 Marketing marketing@cipp.org.uk 0121 712 1033 Membership membership@cipp.org.uk
Lora Murphy MCIPPdip (editor@cipp.org.uk) Editor and Host of ‘Behind the Button’, CIPP
CHAIR’S comment
0121 712 1073 Qualifications education@ippeducation.co.uk 0121 712 1023 Training training@cipp.org.uk 0121 712 1013
As the newly appointed Chair, it’s a privilege to welcome you to this issue of the magazine. The theme this time is ‘ Celebrate and elevate ’ – two words that capture so much of what makes our profession special. National Payroll Week gave us the opportunity to celebrate the people behind payroll: those who work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to ensure millions of people are paid accurately and on time. But celebration alone isn’t enough. We must also elevate payroll, by raising its profile, championing the skills and knowledge of our profession and ensuring employers, Government and the wider public understand the vital contribution that payroll makes to our economy and society. We also recently held our Annual Conference and Exhibition, or ‘ACE’. This provided another wonderful opportunity for learning, sharing ideas, building relationships and looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead. Our profession is built on expertise, trust, responsibility and an extraordinary commitment to getting things right. As the new Chair, my aim is to represent all CIPP members, to listen to your views and to continue the excellent work of my predecessors. Let us celebrate what we’ve
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Trademarks The CIPP logo, the initials ‘CIPP’ and the words ‘Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward’ are trademarks of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals. Copyright: The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals 2025. The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, Goldfinger House, 245 Cranmore Boulevard, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, B90 4ZL. Switchboard 0121 712 1000 Copyright This magazine is published by The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals in whom the copyright is vested. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the CIPP or the Editor. The information and comment contained in this publication are given in good faith, their accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed.
achieved, and together, elevate our profession for the future. Stuart Hall MA PGdipM MCIPPdip (stuart.hall@cipp.org.uk) Chair, CIPP
IN THIS ISSUE
In the summertime
REGULARS
FEATURES
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comments 01 Your CIPP
Editor and Chair
04
Institute updates, Policy in progress, Payroll news, Ask the payroll pros…, Pay and perspective with Jason, Culture, governance and quality, Listening to industry: what our 2026 Annual Survey tells us, Payroll champions
Technical 18 Wellbeing 26 Feature article 29 Thought leadership 32 Innovation 42 Useful contacts directory 47 Hot topic article 50 Making payroll personal 52
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When compliance and clients collide By Tracy Jerram and Lora Murphy Struggling with debt, struggling to focus: workplace conversations that can make a difference By Rachel Harte
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NMW compliance is everyone’s business By Jeni Morris National minimum wage policy changes increasingly driving recruitment decisions By Chris Robson Payrolling benefits in kind – a journey By Georgie Ward
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2 0 3 5 CIPP COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Recycling this magazine saves around 70% of energy and water * – help us reach our sustainability goals. Carrier sheet Put in your recycling Outer wrap Put in food waste or composting Cover Put in your regular rubbish Inner pages Put in your recycling
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In your corner: wellbeing in payroll By AJ Jain
* Compared to creating new from trees
AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2026
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Feature article: payroll: time to level up By Lora Murphy From zero to processing payrolls equalling £81 million – what I wish I knew starting out By Minhaz Moosa Payroll as a profession: a dying art or simply misunderstood? By Paul Bauer
Working smarter, not harder – the role of AI in
the workplace By Paul Chamberlain
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From transactional to strategic: breaking the payroll glass ceiling By Joao Matos Hot topic: payroll’s next chapter, from function to force By Gemma Creamer
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Bonus online content
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Complex payroll doesn’t have to be risky payroll By Graham Wylie
View the online version for additional content at cipp.org.uk or scan the QR code
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From ‘Wild West’ to well-structured: evolving payroll By Tina Biffen
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Technology and data: unlocking the payroll of the future By Mike Loydon
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