All Change For Pensions - New laws on pension provision - Bingo Association
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The only newsletter produced for the UK Licensed Bingo Industry August 2012
All Change For Pensions
New laws on pension provision
Workplace pensions Staging Date
law has changed. All Employers will have new
duties which will be
employers have new
introduced in stages
legal duties to help starting from October 2012,
their employees save with each employer
for their retirement. allocated a date from when
the duties will first apply to
st them, known as their
On 1 July 2012 a new law
came into force which ‘staging date’. This date is
prohibited employers from based upon the number of
inducing or offering employees you have.
incentives to their staff, or Employers with the largest
prospective employees, to number of workers in their
abandon retirement saving. PAYE schemes will have
This is part of a process the earliest staging date.
that will see far reaching In preparing for these an Independent Financial
changes for pensions Finding out when your changes employers will Adviser, they still require
responsibility come into staging date is likely to be need to : the employer to take
play during. is the first thing an responsibility for ensuring
employer should do, so • Assess their work force that the information provide
that you can plan what you • Identify who to is accurate, complete and
Later this year further
need to do to be ready in automatically enrol on time.
changes to pensions law
good time.
will come into effect and • Choose a pension
will impact all employers scheme A wealth of information and
with at least one employee Check your staging date
• Register with the range of useful guides to
in the UK. In short, each stage can be found
You can check your Regulator
employers will need to: on The Pension
provisional staging date • Make contributions
Regulator’s website at
with The Pensions • Keep accurate records
• Automatically enrol www.tpr.gov.uk.
Regulator using their web
certain employees into a site www.tpr.gov.uk/staging The site also offers the
pension scheme Information facility to sign-up for email
• Make contributions on Requirements updates, helping to ensure
their employees’ behalf In addition to these key that you don’t miss any
There is some flexibility in stages there are also
• Register with The that employers can choose new information.
requirements regarding
Pensions Regulator (‘the to bring forward their provision of information to
regulator’) staging date, provided the employees regarding the
• Provide employees with regulator is informed. Visit The Bingo
changes. These
certain information about However, employers requirements are quite Association online at
the changes and how cannot choose a later date specific and even where www.bingo-
they will affect them. than the one they are the process is being
allocated.
associaiton.co.uk
handled for an employer by
BingoLINK August 2012 1
NEWS
Welcome to BingoLINK!
It’s back and in a new e-format.
Following an absence accessing up to date Anything and everything FREE for Members.
of four years, the only information on the latest that makes club bingo As well as being a great
publication for the land bingo business news, great is what we want to way to share industry news
based bingo industry, legislation and operational know about, whether it’s a and stories within the
BingoLINK, is back! issues. Bingo LINK is back fundraising event or a visit industry, BingoLINK is also
to provide news on broader from the Mayor, email your a great way of showing
Changes at the Association
issues of interests and stories and pictures to organisations and those
and the costs of producing
stories about the bingolink@ who do not work in the
BingoLINK in a traditional
companies and people who bingo-association.co.uk industry just what we are
paper format had meant
make up the business. If you have an idea for a all about. The new e-
that by August 2008 it was
no longer economically feature, or are a reader format version of
We want to know about: from outside the UK, and BingoLINK means that we
viable to continue • Your great staff
publishing. However, wish to send details of club are also able to reach a far
interest in the title has not • Charity events bingo in your particular part wider audience than ever
disappeared. • New clubs/refits of the globe, drop us an before.
email.
Technical advances in web • Lucky winners
based publishing and the If you are interested in
• New products
creation of a NEW website placing an advertisement in Contact BingoLINK
• Special events BingoLINK then please get
for the Association mean
that we are now able to • Party nights in touch: it’s FREE for bingolink@bingo-
publish BingoLINK more • Heroes Members, with a nominal association.co.uk
economically. charge for non-members.
• Great Callers
The new BA website If you have a job vacancy,
• Star players
provides Members with an then why not post it on the
• Events Association’s website: it’s
easy and quick means of
BingoLINK
Editorial Policy and Contact Details
BingoLink Is Published BingoLINK JOBs section. For all
by The Bingo Advertising advertising enquiries
Association Limited. please contact us by email.
Adverting opportunities are
Reproduction in whole or in available in BingoLINK with
part is strictly prohibited the facility to place a web
without the express link in your advertisement
Contact Details
permission of the publisher. direct to you site/product. BingoLink
Views expressed are not Advertising is FREE to Full The Bingo Association Ltd.
necessarily those of The Members of The Bingo Lexham House
Bingo Association. All Association, with a nominal 75 High Street North
prices and information charge made to all other Dunstable
correct at the date of advertisers. Bedfordshire.
publication but subject to LU6 1JF
We do not accept job
change.
advertisements directly, Tel: 01582 860921
Unsolicited materials though the facility to Fax: 01582 860925
submitted to BingoLINK advertise a job vacancy is Email: bingolink@bingo-
shall be assumed for available at www.bingo- association.co.uk
publication. association.co.uk in the
BingoLINK August 2012 2
NEWS
In a party mood!
Castle Bingo celebrate the BIG wins!
couldn’t wait to book a Stacey from Castle Bingo been happening online,
holiday! Barnes Hill couldn't believe with five lucky online
Twenty-four year old her luck when she called players winning VIP nights
Aimee hit the jackpot, number '45' on the C45 out at clubs and one very
calling ‘house’ on number Jackpot link game, taking lucky online regular
13 and winning £23,000 at away £27,000! scooping a fantastic
Castle Bingo in Newport Lady Luck shone on one £20,000 playing a online
Road. She shared her very special 22 year old scratch card game.
Castle Bingo have
been splashing the fantastic winnings with her player at Castle Bingo .
bubbly as they best friend and mother, Nantgarw, where she won
who were both playing at the prize of a lifetime -
celebrate their players’
the time. £72,000. She was shocked
lucky wins.
by her win and asked to
Castle Bingo Neath remain anonymous, but
celebrated a fantastic win said that the timing was
for regular Jacqueline, who perfect as she was due to
shared her big winnings give birth just days after
with her sister and niece. her win.
Jacqueline said she was
The winnings and
‘over the moon’ to win and
celebrations have also
New Chairman
Mark Jones appointed as Association Chairman
Mark Jones has been through to the successful people’s perceptions of the
Managing Director of sale to Robert Tchenguiz’s industry.”
Mecca Bingo for the past R20. Prior to this he spent The Association’s previous
three years, a post he will 8 years with Whitbread, Chairman, Brian Mattingley,
retain, and joined The culminating as CEO of was appointed in June
Rank Group Plc in 2009. Pizza Hut UK Ltd. 2009. Association Chief
His duties as Chairman Mecca is a long standing Executive Paul Talboys
th
formally started on 27 member of the Association said ‘We are highly
June this year. and firmly committed to appreciative of Brian’s
Prior to joining Mecca working with other contribution to the work of
Bingo he was Executive operators to shape and the Association over the
Chairman of Premium Bars further the industry agenda. past three years and I have
Mark Jones
and Restaurants. He has Mark said: greatly enjoyed working
held a number of other ”I am delighted to have with him. The industry still
Mark Jones, Managing senior management posts been appointed to the faces a number of
in the Leisure industry, position of Chair of the significant challenges,
Director of Mecca
including Chief Executive Bingo Association. My specifically in regard to
Bingo has been
of the Yates Group - a fully primary focus will be to securing a fair tax regime.
appointed as the new
listed company on the continue the Association’s Mark’s experience in the
Chairman of The Bingo Stock Exchange. While at campaign to secure a fairer leisure sector will be a
Association. Yates he led a tax deal for bingo and to great asset in helping the
management buy out continue to change Association navigate the
(MBO) of the business, road ahead.’
BingoLINK August 2012 3
NEWS
Dementia Awareness Week 2012
Raising awareness & essential funds for care and cure
The Alzheimer’s steered by the desire to disease, but also their support families affected by
Society’s annual support an increasingly carers, who in many cases dementia throughout the
awareness and significant cause that must provide round the UK. They provide practical
fundraising week took affected society and a clock support. There are support and services for
place in May this year charity that was equally currently over 750,000 those affected with
and for the first time committed to making a real people with dementia in the dementia and their carers,
The Association and difference to those affected, UK, a figure that is set to in addition to research into
many of its Members their carers and the longer rise to over a million by treatment and campaigning
term issue of research. 2021. for a better quality of life.
took part.
Dementia is a difficult topic Prior to reaching a final
Following a review of The • Dementia is not an
to raise and greatly decision to support
Association’s charity inevitable part of aging.
misunderstood, with dementia and Alzheimer’s
support earlier this year, it
relatively little known about • It is a disease of the brain Society, casual enquiry in a
was agreed to spread The
its cause and progression. • It increasingly affects handful of clubs across the
Association’s good will to a
However, it is an issue that younger people UK revealed that a lot of
new and worthy cause.
increasingly touches a bingo players knew
The decision was not an
great many people, not Alzheimer’s Society and someone who was affected
easy one to make, but was
only those affected by the Alzheimer Scotland work to by dementia or someone
BingoLINK August 2012 4
NEWS
who was a carer. This both in respect of health families and communities. Dementia Challenge.
cemented the Committee’s care provision and The need for greater We will provide regular
decisions to support the planning for the future understanding and better updates in BingoLINK.
Alzheimer’s Society. needs to society. In March care, for both those
For more details on the
Getting Underway this year the Prime Minister affected and their carers is
Dementia Challenge visit:
The formal announcement launched ‘The Dementia paramount. There is so
Challenge’. The key aims much that bingo as a www.dementiachallenge.
of the new partnership with
of the Challenge are: community can contribute dh.gov.uk
the Alzheimer’s Society
was made in April this year. • Give a boost to dementia both to the work of
With Dementia Awareness research Alzheimer’s Society and
Week 2012 set for 20th the broader work of the
• Address quality of
May, this created a dementia care
challenge in respect of
• Increase public
making plans and
understanding of
preparations to support
dementia
Association Members
getting involved in the • Make communities more
week. Despite the dementia friendly.
incredibly short lead time Three Champion Groups
many clubs went the extra have been set up to
distance and managed to explore three key areas:
run events, raising health and care, research,
awareness and much and communities. Each
needed funds. will feed back to the PM in
Alzheimer’s Society September on its area of
Ambassador, Lynda work, making
Bellingham heard that the recommendations on next
Association had formally steps and projects to help
committed to support shape and inform national
Alzheimer’s Society and policy in addition to
stepped forward to support directly driving real
club bingo. change.
Our First Annual Week In light of club bingo’s
Despite the rush to make ability to create and
things happen during sustain communities, The
Dementia Awareness Association was invited to
Week it looks as though join the Communities
the hard work of supporting Champion Group, which is Prime Minister, David Cameron
clubs and their generous co-chaired by Jeremy
players will have already Hughes, Chief Exec of
helped raise over £50,000 Alzheimer’s Society and
so far this year. There are Angela Rippon, who is an
plenty of fun and exciting Ambassador for the
ways in which clubs can Society.
still add to this figure The Group’s first meeting
th
throughout the remainder took place on 26 April at
of the year and the Bingo which the initial principles
Team from Alzheimer’s of the group and nature of
Society will be contacting the challenge were
clubs after the summer explored. A number of
with more information, meetings have taken
details will also be place since, including one
available on the during Dementia
th
Association web site. Awareness Week on 24
PM’s Challenge May, which the Prime
The issue of dementia: Minister attended.
treatment, care, cure and Making A Difference Visit the Alzheimer’s Society online at:
society, is becoming an The impact of dementia www.alzheimers.org.uk
increasingly important topic, touches upon so many
BingoLINK August 2012 5
FEATURE
Nesting For Retirement
National Employment Savings Trust
NEST Website – www.nestpensions.org.uk
Changes to the law For larger organisations comfortable with, nor As such it can provide
concerning pensions the issues of pension readily have the time for. assistance at every step of
now means that every planning have been a Information from The the way, including
employer in the UK regular feature on the Pensions Regulator is provision of information,
business agenda, but for available to help inform this with easy to use templates
has a legal duty to help
many SMEs it is something important decision and written in plain language.
their UK employees Government has set up the
save for retirement. they may have tried to Whether the scheme an
defer, as it has become National Employment
This requirement employer uses for
such a complicated and Savings Trust (NEST),
affects all employers automatic enrolment is new
which offers a pension
fraught subject. However, or not, it must meet certain
with one or more scheme. This scheme has
these latest changes now legal standards. The
employees. force the issue to be
a public service obligation,
Department for Work and
meaning it must accept all
confronted head-on, with Pensions (DWP) is the
employers who apply and
all employers with an Government department
has been established by
automatic enrolment duty responsible for introducing
Government to ensure that
needing to choose a new workplace pension
employers, including those
pension scheme they can changes and further
that employ low to medium
use. information is available at
earners, can access
www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/
The process of identifying pension saving and comply
pensions-reform.
and selecting a pension with their automatic
provider is not something enrolment duties.
that all companies are
BingoLINK August 2012 6
FEATURE
who have not saved in a workers and their
8 Key Pension pension scheme before
How does it invest
pension arrangements
for a minimum of 6
members money? years.
Planning Points Would it support dealing
with high staff turnover? 7. Let your workers know
workers. Find out more How easy is the scheme what is happening:
1. Find out when your at www.nestpensions. to administer? It is a legal responsibility
organisation needs to org.uk, on the ‘Your to ensure that workers
comply. Check your Duties’ page under Nest 5. Be ready for minimum affected by the changes
staging date at for employers. contributions: are informed in writing,
www.thepensionsregulat Qualifying earnings are either electronically or in
or.gov.uk 3. Consider whether you those between £5,035 hard copy.
Your local Business Link can use your current and £33,540 in
also provides useful scheme(s) to comply November 2008 terms. 8. Understand how
information for with new duties: Minimum contributions opting out works:
employers The Government sets will rise from an initial Workers who have been
www.businesslink.gov. out certain legal 2% of qualifying automatically enrolled
uk standards that qualifying earnings to 8% by 2017, into a pension scheme
schemes need to meet, of which a minimum 3% and those with qualifying
2. Understand which check at must be contributed by earnings who have
workers you need to www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/ the employer. opted in, have the right
enroll and make pensions-reform to opt out within one
contributions for: 6. Provide accurate up to month.
- if they are at least 22 4. Think about what you date information to the Workers who opt out
and under State might need from a new qualifying scheme: must be re-enrolled after
Pension age - who earn scheme: You will need to provide a defined period
more than £7,475 a year How might it work along accurate information to (currently 3 years).
in January 2011 terms side any existing the scheme and will
You may need to enroll scheme? need to keep specific
and contribute for other Is it suitable for workers records about your
BingoLINK August 2012 7
FEATURE
Scouting For Talent
The challenge to find and retain good people
Sourcing, recruiting Recognising that job person states that they • Tendency to physical or
and retaining great applicants are potential have a disability then as an sexual abuse of others
staff is a challenge for customers, as well as employer you should not • Exhibitionism
all businesses, but potential employees, be in any doubt as to
• Voyeurism
especially so for those provides a unique whether or not the person
opportunity to influence has or has had a disability. Alcoholism would not be
that are service based
consumer behaviour and It is important to remember included, but liver disease
and people focused, caused by alcohol
like bingo. affect purchase decisions. that not all impairments are
Many employers have easy to identify. dependency would count
The process of recruitment found that disabled staff as an impairment, despite
There are a wide range of
is one that many dread. It tend to exhibit greater addiction to alcohol being
disabilities and
can be time consuming, commitment to their work the cause and excluded
impairments covered by
costly and fraught with and stay with the company from the definitions.
The Act.
many challenges, not least, far longer than other Therefore it is important to
ensuring that you comply These include: focus on the effect of the
employees. In terms of
with all current recruitment consistency and retention • Those produced by an impairment not the cause.
and employment legislation. of corporate knowledge injury to the body or brain As exampled by the
For many employers the that is a distinct advantage. • Organ specific including previous paragraphs,
fear of getting it ‘wrong’, respiratory conditions i.e working within and
and the costs associated Development and Action asthma, stoke, thoroughly understanding
with doing so, actively Before undertaking any thrombosis. the Act is not necessarily
prevents them, at least recruitment or developing a easy. Yet the benefits that
• Sensory impairment, such
subconsciously, from even disability strategy/policy it can accrue for both
as hearing and sight.
considering those with is essential to know and employer and employee
disabilities. In doing so, • Developmental, i.e.
understand what the term are substantial. It is for
they are missing out on dyslexia, autism.
‘disability’ means in relation these reasons that the
some of the most to the law and The Equality • Learning difficulties Department For Works and
committed, loyal and long Act 2012. • Progressive illness i.e. Pensions (DWP) requested
serving employees they that tools be developed in
might ever have. order to open up the
Aside from minimising the risks associated with the
Many large companies process of recruitment and
have fully recognised the
legislation, as defined by The Equality Act 201, and
offer support.
value of ensuring an being the right thing to do, there is a compelling
commercial business case for employers who want To address this need The
inclusive recruitment and Clear Company worked
employment strategy, the best talent working for them. .
with DWP and BT, Eon,
these include BT, South HMRC, The Home Office
Easter Railways, Eon, dementia, muscular
and SouthEastern Trains,
Lloyds Banking Group, The Law - dystrophy
over a three year period to
Sainsbury’s and The Home The Equality Act 201. • Fluctuating or recurring develop the Disability
Office. Aside from Disability is specified as effects i.e. arthritis, ME ClearKit. The Disability
minimising the risks one of the ‘protected
• Mental health conditions ClearKit is the largest
associated with the characteristics’ under the
i.e. depression, eating single resource portal for
legislative framework, as Equality Act 2012. The Act
disorders. employers to access
defined by the Equality Act states that ‘A person has a
• HIV infection, cancer and guidance and advice on
2010 and it being the right disability for the purpose of
multiple sclerosis. best practice for inclusive
thing to do, there is a The Act if he or she has a
recruitment. A new
compelling commercial physical or mental Not included:
concept in support for
business case for impairment and the • Addiction or dependency employers, the toolkit gives
employers who want the impairment has a
• Seasonal allergies guidance based on the
best talent working for substantial and long-term
• Tendency to set fires principle of providing the
them and to include adverse effect on his or her
‘best possible solutions
disabled people as ability to carry out normal • Tendency to steal
from the organisations best
employees and customers. day-to-day activities’. If a
places to provide them’.
BingoLINK August 2012 8
FEATURE
In addressing the need for E.on
inclusive recruitment The E.on’s commitment comes
Clear Company provides a from the fact that they
range of products and firmly believe inclusion
services; Clear Audit, Clear should be at the heart of
Kit, Clear Assured and recruitment practice, and
Clear Learning. there’s a good reason for
that; beyond being the right
• ClearAudit is a unique thing to do, it makes good
comprehensive and deep- business sense. Ultimately
rooted evaluation of an E.on aspires to employ a
organisations’ recruitment workforce to match the
and retention strategies. diversity of their customers
It identifies risks, barriers to support E.on’s business
and opportunities within strategy of ‘becoming a
policy, practice and trusted energy partner to
process. The Clear process is an on-line based support tool
deliver cleaner, better
• ClearKit is a practical energy. and there are a variety of levels at which employers
resource that provides By going through the Clear can access advice and support, from basic FREE
access to thought leaders Assured process E.on ClearKit Subscription, through to ClearAssured.
and employer case discovered:
studies. With relevant In celebration of the 2012 London Paralympics,
• At the start of their
and helpful tips and ‘must journey there were no Members of The Bingo Association are being offered
do’ check lists, which help applicants who declared a a 20% discount on all purchases made up until the
dispel the myths that disability, in the last six
prevent many employers close of the games on 9th September.
months this has now risen
from giving disabled to over 700. To find out more about The Clear Company and start
people an opportunity to your journey visit
• Candidates seek disability
join their team.
confidence in the people
• ClearAssured is an assessing their skills and
evidence based www.theclearcompany.co.uk or
will perform better as a
accreditation process that result. www.clearkit.co.uk
recognises employers’
• Hiring managers have a
commitment to identifying
lack of knowledge about
and removing barriers
disability and are often
from recruitment policy,
afraid of dealing with
process and practice, that
difference for the fear of
have the ability to exclude
‘saying the wrong thing’.
disabled people.
• ClearLearning is a range
of workshops and master The benefits of employing
classes tailored to the disabled candidates speak
areas that are regularly for themselves:
identified as ‘sticking • When disability and
points’ in an organisations health are properly
progress to addressing managed, disabled
diversity. employees tend to take
fewer sick days then their
The Clear Company has non-disabled colleagues
developed these products and stay with employers
in response to employer for longer
needs, having worked with • The cost of keeping a
over 220 leading disabled employee by
employers in order to making reasonable
explore and address issues. adjustments will almost
This includes E.on, the always cost far less than
energy company. having to recruit and train
a new employee.
BingoLINK August 2012 9
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