Prepare your business for National Payroll Week

You may be aware that next week (3–7 September) is National Payroll Week, which is designed to “raise the profile and awareness of payroll in the UK”. But what exactly is payroll, and why should we celebrate it?

Essentially, ‘payroll’ refers to everything to do with paying employees and collecting taxes from them, and it has a significant impact on the country’s economy. According to the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), payroll contributes £4.46 billion to the economy each year through income tax and national insurance.

Exactly what form your payroll takes will depend on the type and size of business you own: perhaps you handle all payroll matters yourself, or maybe you have one or two employees, or even an entire department, dedicated to it. Whatever your payroll looks like, it’s a vital part of your business, and next week’s celebrations are a great opportunity to recognise that. With that in mind, here are a few of the ways you can prepare your business for National Payroll Week.

  1. Celebrate your payroll team

There are dozens of ways you can celebrate the value your payroll team brings to your business, so start planning now. The CIPP offers downloadable resources for National Payroll Week, including themed posters, stickers and bunting for decorating the office, and tips for getting involved on social media. Of course, you could celebrate in other ways – for example, by treating your employees to lunch, holding a raffle or doing a payroll-themed quiz in the office.

  1. Educate your employees

Many employees find their payslips confusing, so what better time to teach them? You could schedule a meeting where employees can have their payroll questions answered, or put together a package of useful payroll tools that will help them to make sense of their monthly cheques. Lay the groundwork now by making it clear that there is no question too small, and by encouraging a helpful atmosphere for those who find financial matters daunting.

  1. Spread the love

It’s more fun to celebrate together, so be sure to talk about National Payroll Week on your website, company emails and social media. You can start the conversation now using the hashtag #NPW18 to find others who are taking part, and to share your payroll tips and tricks. By creating awareness about payroll, more people will understand what it is for and what a significant role it can play in a business’ success.


Do you need help with your business’ payroll? Get Ahead VA offers one-off and ongoing financial support from professional, expert virtual assistants. To find out more, please give us a call on 01483 332220 or email us at office@getaheadva.com. We pride ourselves on being the staff you don’t see, but the difference you do.

Find out more about our services or call 01483 332 220 to discuss in more detail.