Employer Training Sessions
Employer Services can offer a comprehensive suite of on-site and off-site coaching sessions to help you and your staff carry out the day-to-day administration of the scheme.
Free to attend, the sessions will be useful both as a refresher for existing staff, or an introduction to processes for those that are new to Fund administration. If you would like to book on any of the sessions, just click the relevant date to be taken straight to the booking page. A link to the webinar will be sent to you in the Eventbrite confirmation email; please save this, otherwise you will not be able to access the webinar.
If you have never used Adobe Connect before you may find our Webinar Etiquette and Troubleshooting, in the Downloads section, useful.
Introduction to LGPS (I9)
Suitable for Payroll/Pensions Administrators, HR Officers and anyone else who wants to learn more about the LGPS, this session will give you an overview of the scheme and outline employer roles and responsibilities in the scheme.
- Date/Time: Thursday 30th January, in-house 10am – 16:00pm
- Date/Time: Tuesday 25th February, in-house 10am – 16:00pm
- Date/Time: Tuesday 29th April, in-house 10am – 16:00pm
- Date/Time: Wednesday 4th June. In-house 10am – 16:00pm
- Date/Time: Tuesday 16th September, in-house 10am – 16:00pm
- Date/Time: Thursday 13th November, in-house 10am – 16:00pm
Ill health retirements (Webinar)
Suitable for HR officers, senior managers, payroll/pension administrators/managers in all of our employer organisations, this comprehensive session will guide you step-by-step through the ill-health retirement process from when your own internal management of attendance process concludes that a member is recommended to pursue retirement on the grounds of ill health.
- Date/Time: Monday 20th January, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 19th March, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Monday 14th July, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 10th September, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Thursday 27th November, 10am – 11:30am
Employer Discretions (Webinar)
The Local Government Pension Scheme regulations require employers who participate in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) to draw up and publish a discretions policy and to keep it under review. Discretions are powers that enable employers to choose how to apply the scheme in respect of certain provisions. There are a number of discretions that employers may have a policy in relation to; five of which are mandatory. This session will give employers an overview about the discretions that should be included in a policy and give you the information that you need to help you formulate your own organisational discretionary policy.
- Date/Time: Tuesday 28th January, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 5th March, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Thursday 26th June, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Tuesday 21st October, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 26th November, 10am – 11:30am
Monthly Submissions (Webinar)
Our Monthly Submissions session will guide you through the Employer-Self Service (ESS) process. This session provides a comprehensive overview of the monthly submission process, offering insights into key data requirements, compliance expectations, to ensure accuracy and efficiency in your submissions.
- Date/Time: Tuesday 4th February, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Tuesday 6th May, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Thursday 11th September, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 10th December, 10am – 11:30am
Understanding Pay & Service in the LGPS (Webinar)
New or existing payroll and pension administrators will find this session particularly useful, as it will cover exactly what pay information you need to include on your monthly submissions and leaver/retirement notifications.
- Date/Time: Tuesday 11th February, 10am - 11.30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 11th June, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Friday 26th September, 10am – 11:30am
Estimates and Early Retirement Costs (Webinar)
Before you process any redundancy/business efficiency retirements, grant flexible retirements, or waive any actuarial reductions for members, we advise that an estimate is run through Employer Self-Service to establish any potential costs to the employer. This session will show you how to do just that.
- Date/Time: Thursday 13th February, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Friday 2nd May, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Tuesday 1st July, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 8th October, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Monday 8th December, 10am – 11:30am
Leavers – Refunds and Deferments (Webinar)
All about refunds, deferments and opting out.
- Date/Time: Friday 14th March, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Thursday 28th August, 10am – 11:30am
TUPE, Tenders & Pass-Through Arrangements (Webinar)
This session is aimed at guarantors (for example, Local Authorities, Academy Trusts), or contractors who are looking to bid for contracts with one of the organisations. It will guide you through the regulations applicable to becoming an admission body, and WMPF's arrangements and requirements.
- Date/Time: TBC
Assumed Pensionable Pay (APP) (Webinar)
When is APP applied? How is it calculated and how is it applied/reported?
- Date/Time: Monday 7th April, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 1st October, 10am – 11:30am
Final Statement (Webinar)
As part of the Year End process the Fund requires completion of the Final Statement as an annual certification of the contributions paid to the Fund by your organisation. This short session will guide you through the requirements for its completion and submission.
- Date/Time: Thursday 10 April 2025, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 7 May 2025, 10am – 11:30amRetirements (Webinar)
Retirements (Webinar)
This session will explain the retirement process from the start of a member retiring voluntarily or based on an employer decision up to the payment of the pension benefits by the pension fund.
- Date/Time: Wednesday 30th April, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Friday 17th October, 10am – 11:30am
APC/AVC’s Increasing benefits (Webinar)
This session will introduce the options that are available for an LGPS member to increase their pension benefits and how these processes managed by both employers and WMPF.
- Date/Time: TBC
Roles & Responsibilities of an Employer (Webinar)
Legislation dictates minimum standards that pension schemes should meet in providing certain pieces of information to the various parties associated with the LGPS. In addition, regulatory guidance sets out a number of requirements for the Fund and scheme employers to provide information to each other, scheme members and prospective scheme members, dependents, other pension arrangements or other regulatory bodies. This session will set out what those expectations are, and will tell you how to meet them.
- Date/Time: Monday 16th June, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Monday 15th December, 10am – 11:30am
ESS Navigation (Webinar)
This session will cover ESS navigation and how to run available reports.
- Date/Time: Monday 7th July, 10am – 11:30am
- Date/Time: Wednesday 3rd December, 10am – 11:30am
*WMPF reserve the right to cancel webinars where uptake is low. If it becomes necessary to cancel a webinar we will endeavour to offer alternative dates, where available*
We also offer bespoke training sessions to employers if they have a number of staff that require training in any particular area (not necessarily one of those listed above). Please let us know on the email address below if this would be of interest to you.
If you are unsure which sessions would be suitable for you, please call us on 0300 111 6516 or email WMPFEmployerLiaison2@wolverhampton.gov.uk.
Feedback from attendees is always appreciated and suggestions for further topics are welcome.
Employer Training Sessions 2025
| Date | Subject | Webinar/I9 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan-25 | ||
| Monday 20/01/2025 | Ill Health retirements | Webinar |
| Tuesday 28/01/2025 | Employer Discretions | Webinar |
| Thursday 30/01/2025 | Introduction to LGPS | i9 |
| Feb-25 | ||
| Tuesday 04/02/2025 | Monthly Submissions | Webinar |
| Tuesday 11/02/2025 | Understanding Pay & Service in the LGPS | Webinar |
| Thursday 13/02/2025 | Estimates and Early Retirement Costs (ERC) | Webinar |
| Tuesday 25/02/2025 | Introduction to LGPS | i9 |
| ??? | TUPE, Tenders & Pass-through Arrangements | Webinar |
| Mar-25 | ||
| Wednesday 05/03/2025 | Employer Discretions | Webinar |
| Friday 14/03/2025 | Leavers - Refunds and deferment's | Webinar |
| Wednesday 19/03/2025 | Ill Health retirements | Webinar |
| Thursday 27/03/2025 | Submitting Interfaces (Standard and Leaver/Retirement) | Webinar |
| Apr-25 | ||
| Monday 07/04/2025 | Assumed Pensionable Pay (APP) | Webinar |
| Thursday 10/04/2025 | Final Statements | Webinar |
| Tuesday 29/04/2025 | Introduction to LGPS | i9 |
| Wednesday 30/04/2025 | Retirements | Webinar |
| May-25 | ||
| Friday 02/05/2025 | Estimates and Early Retirement Costs (ERC) | Webinar |
| Tuesday 06/05/2025 | Monthly Submissions | Webinar |
| Wednesday 07/05/2025 | Final Statements | Webinar |
| Friday 09/05/2025 | APC/AVC's (Increasing benefits) | Webinar |
| Jun-25 | ||
| Wednesday 04/06/2025 | Introduction to LGPS | i9 |
| Wednesday 11/06/2025 | Understanding Pay & Service in the LGPS | Webinar |
| Monday 16/06/2025 | Roles & Responsibilities of an Employer | Webinar |
| Thursday 26/06/2025 | Employer Discretions | Webinar |
| Jul-25 | ||
| Tuesday 01/07/2025 | Estimates and Early Retirement Costs (ERC) | Webinar |
| Monday 07/07/2025 | ESS navigation | Webinar |
| Monday 14/07/2025 | Ill Health retirements | Webinar |
| Tuesday 15/07/2025 | Understanding your Accounting Disclosures | Webinar |
| Aug-25 | ||
| Wednesday 27/08/2025 | Deaths | Webinar |
| Thursday 28/08/2025 | Leavers - Refunds and deferment's | Webinar |
| Sep-25 | ||
| Wednesday 10/09/2025 | Ill Health retirements | Webinar |
| Thursday 11/09/2025 | Monthly Submissions | Webinar |
| Tuesday 16/09/2025 | Introduction to LGPS | i9 |
| Friday 26/09/2025 | Understanding Pay & Service in the LGPS | Webinar |
| Oct-25 | ||
| Wednesday 01/10/2025 | Assumed Pensionable Pay (APP) | Webinar |
| Wednesday 08/10/2025 | Estimates and Early Retirement Costs (ERC) | Webinar |
| Friday 17/10/2025 | Retirements | Webinar |
| Tuesday 21/10/2025 | Employer Discretions | Webinar |
| Nov-25 | ||
| Wednesday 05/11/2025 | APC/AVC's (Increasing benefits) | Webinar |
| Thursday 13/11/2025 | Introduction to LGPS | i9 |
| Wednesday 26/11/2025 | Employer Discretions | Webinar |
| Thursday 27/11/2025 | Ill Health retirements | Webinar |
| Dec-25 | ||
| Wednesday 03/12/2025 | ESS navigation | Webinar |
| Monday 08/12/2025 | Estimates and Early Retirement Costs (ERC) | Webinar |
| Wednesday 10/12/2025 | Monthly Submissions | Webinar |
| Monday 15/12/2025 | Roles & Responsibilities of an Employer | Webinar |
AGM/MYR
The Fund hosts employer events on a bi-annual basis and invites all employers to attend a half-day session to learn about the LGPS industry which includes topical presentations and interaction sessions.
For further information on the day, please email WMPFEmployerLiaison2@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Peer Group
If you would like to register your interest or obtain further information, please review the 2022/23 Employer Peer Group Terms of Reference (below) or feel free to contact the Employer Services Team.
This is a group of employer representatives who meet on a quarterly basis and discuss new initiatives and changes to the scheme processes and policies. The group provide valuable feedback to help shape the Fund's services.
Employer Peer Group - Terms of reference
The Employer Peer Group consists of a group of representatives from across the Fund’s employer base e.g., District Councils,
educational establishments, private companies and other participating organisations. The group discusses a range of topics
(based on an agreed agenda) such as the legal obligations of scheme employers, ongoing or topical issues and upcoming events.
Primary purposes of the group
- To enable the Fund to work collaboratively with employers
- To share best practice
- To discuss current pensions issues and their impact on the WMPF/LGPS/wider Pensions Industry
- To encourage engagement between the Peer Group (representing Fund Employers) and the Fund to improve the exchange of data and communication.
- Provide feedback to the Fund to assist them when implementing improvements
Meeting information
- Peer Group is usually held at the Fund offices (i9 – Wolverhampton) however, sessions can also be attended via the online platform, Microsoft Teams, when circumstances require (see ‘virtual meeting etiquette’).
- At least three Fund representatives will attend each meeting, to include specialist presenters on set topics as required. In the event of employee representation via Microsoft Teams, a meeting organiser will also be appointed.
- Membership of the group is open to all scheme employers via an expression of interest.
- The membership and attendance of the group will be reviewed annually or at such a point as required.
- Depending on attendee availability, and content for discussion, it is anticipated that each session will last for 2 to 3 hours.
- Common roles of the employee representatives include: Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, Pension staff, along with any other staff who liaise with the Fund on a regular basis or have a strategic role within their organisation.
- Minimum number of attendees: 7 (if attendance is lower than the minimum number, the Fund will consider rescheduling the meeting); Maximum number of attendees: 20.
- Attendance is limited to 1 representative per organisation (2 representatives will be considered with prior notification in circumstances such as shadow working, personal development and change of job role etc).
- Notification of non-attendance must be given one week in advance of the scheduled meeting. In such circumstances, a substitute is expected to attend.
Virtual meeting etiquette
- Check that the computer/laptop used to join the meeting is functioning. Check that headphones (if required), microphones, internet connection, etc. are all up and running prior to the meeting start time.
- Be ready to start a few minutes ahead of time to ensure the meeting can begin on the scheduled start time.
- Mute the microphone unless you wish to contribute to the conversation (in which case, see below)
- During the meeting, you can raise a virtual hand to let all participants know, including the meeting organiser, you wish to contribute without interrupting the ongoing conversation. The meeting organiser will then confirm, at the appropriate time, when the microphone can be unmuted, and the conversation can begin based on the order in which the virtual hands were raised.
How are the items for the agenda generated?
- The Fund will forward an invitation in the first quarter of the scheme year for each of the planned Peer Group meeting dates.
- The agenda will be issued to the Peer Group no later than 1 week prior to the scheduled meeting.
- The Fund will produce a meeting summary and action points for circulation amongst the group no later than one month after the meeting.
How will information be relayed from the group to the wider employer base?
- Employer brief (circulated to all employers on a quarterly basis)
- Annual survey (potential inclusion of discussion points in questions)
- AGM (Annual General Meeting) and MYR (Mid-Year Review)
- Fund’s website
- Peer Group minutes will be available to all scheme employers upon request