Pensions - Articles - Aviva comments on auto-enrolment delay for small businesses

 Aviva is calling on the pensions industry to continue to focus on delivering auto-enrolment, despite today's confirmed delay to auto-enrolment staging for small businesses.

 Aviva's Director of Workplace Savings Paul Goodwin said:

 "We have always supported the staged rollout of auto-enrolment and felt that a staging date for most smaller employers of mid 2014 gave enough time to plan and budget for a suitable scheme. We felt the timetable was achievable and was overwhelmingly beneficial to the large number of employees who are currently not saving for retirement through any form of workplace scheme.

 "However, we acknowledge that in today's difficult financial climate a short delay may provide some employers with more flexibility to plan their auto-enrolment process.

 "Providers, including NEST, and advisers need to continue to work closely with employers to minimise the cost of auto-enrolment and maintain the momentum behind these important reforms."