Pensions - Articles - Capita Hartshead helps CSR tune in to PQM accreditation

 High tech specialists CSR have gained the Pension Quality Mark (PQM) for their 680 member group personal pension. They were guided through the process by David Whitaker, a lead consultant at Capita Hartshead’s London Office.

 
 Seema Webb Head of UK HR at CSR said: “Gaining the PQM was important as it demonstrates that we offer a high quality pension arrangement that stands up to rigorous, independent assessment. Capita Hartshead supported us throughout the process, making sure that we understood the requirements and doing all the necessary leg work. The exercise has also taken us a long way down the path towards readiness for auto enrolment.”
  

 David Whitaker said: “CSR were keen to operate to similar levels of governance as are applied to trust based pension schemes, so we helped them set up a governance committee in late 2010. This comprises representatives from CSR, Capita Hartshead and Standard Life, the scheme provider, who meet twice a year to review how the scheme is managed and where there might be scope for improvement.”
  

 The PQM assessment looks at three key areas - contribution structure, governance and communications to members. The CSR scheme offers members a customised website and regular new member presentations, run by Capita Hartshead.