A number of small employers such as bursars in independent schools were interviewed about the work they did to communicate the TPS to teachers. Based on their experiences and sector best practice the following are suggestions of some of the different types of communication activities that as a small employer you may want to consider getting involved in.

Face to Face

Suggested communication activities include:

One of the major advantages small employers have in terms of communications is their familiarity and close proximity to their teaching staff. In such circumstances face to face communications, usually the most effective but expensive form of communication, can be easily affordable even on a very limited budget.

Pension briefings and a slot at your regular staff meeting are excellent ways of engaging teachers about pensions and other HR issues. By making these regular events you will give teachers the opportunity to understand their pension provision better and plan well for their retirement.

Other activities to engage and help members include help with filling out forms and advice on who to contact in TP for further information if needed.

One of the major disadvantages highlighted is the lack of expertise, with many small employers having to be a jack of all trades when it comes to HR. The expertise is available, but at a price. One way to access this would be to join forces with a number of other small employers in your area to make it worthwhile and affordable putting on for example, retirement planning events for your employees and/or training events for yourself.

The printed word

Suggested communication activities include:

When asked, the majority of teachers say that they respond best to getting information face to face and having this backed up with printed materials to take away and read in their own time.

Supplying teachers with printed information does not have to be expensive. Photocopied black and white fact sheets with the information they need clearly presented are fine.

Much of the information supplied in this Toolkit can be cheaply reproduced or downloaded from the TP website for distribution to teachers as relevant.

What is important however, is to give people the same information in a number of different formats over a period of time to reinforce the messages that you are trying to get across. Do not just rely on teachers reading the TPS Members’ Guide. Talk to teachers about their pension, give them printed literature to take away, highlight aspects of the scheme through staff bulletins on notice boards and back this up with easily accessible on-line information.

Electronic communications

Suggested communication activities include:

One cost effective way of keeping teachers updated and engaged in issues around their pension is to provide information on your intranet site if you have one.

It is best not to provide TP literature and forms for downloading as then you will be responsible for ensuring you have the most up to date version on your website. Instead provide links to the TP website where the latest information is always available.

One issue identified by a number of employers was that prospective staff were concerned that they would not be eligible to join, or to continue their membership in, the TPS if they moved into the independent sector.

One way of addressing this is to promote the fact on your website and in your recruitment literature that many independent schools participate in the TPS and in such schools, as with the maintained sector, teachers are eligible for the scheme.