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9 Jul 2025

A recent BBC Breakfast segment has sparked backlash from the cycling community over its portrayal of e-bikes, with critics accusing the broadcaster of conflating legal e-bikes with illegal,...

8 Jul 2025

More than 30 locations across Scotland have seen a major rise in the number of people cycling, according to newly released data.

7 Jul 2025

Sixteen illegally upgraded e-bikes capable of speeds up to 40mph have been seized and disposed of in a joint enforcement operation in Birmingham city centre.

7 Jul 2025

Bristol-based Cytech training provider and ACT member Life Cycle has launched its award-winning Bikes Beyond Bars programme at HMP Bullingdon, expanding a project that has already impacted lives...

4 Jul 2025

New data from Strava reveals a major surge in cycling across the UK, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the charge.

3 Jul 2025

Shimano has launched an urgent investigation into what it describes as a “critical” shortage of skilled bike mechanics across Europe, warning that the situation threatens to...

2 Jul 2025

MPs have called on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls after e-bikes and chargers flagged as serious fire risks were found for sale on their platforms.

25 Jun 2025

The E-Bike Positive campaign has seen major success in the first half of 2025, with its message reaching nearly 8 million people across the UK through high-profile media coverage and growing...

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

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Huge fine for firm who ignored auto-enrolment duties

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News , Creative News, Outdoor News

A case where a high street footwear business turned a £400 fine into a bill for more than £40,000 after claiming it was too busy to meet its pension responsibilities, has prompted a fresh warning to employers by The Pensions Regulator (TPR) not to ignore their automatic enrolment duties.

Johnsons Shoes Company was issued with a £400 fixed penalty notice after it failed to comply with the law on the automatic enrolment of its staff into a workplace pension.

Like all companies must do, Johnsons were required to check whether its staff qualified to be put into a workplace pension scheme and to confirm to TPR that it had done so by September 2014, but failed to do so. As a result they were hit with a £400 fine.

Johnsons paid the £400 fine but still did not become compliant. Despite repeated reminders - and being warned that it would face a new fine that would increase by £2,500 per day if it did not meet its responsibilities - the business continued to ignore their duties.

The fine reached £40,000 before the company finally became compliant. At that point, Johnsons refused to pay the fine - forcing TPR to take the business to court to secure payment.

Eventually Johnsons agreed to pay the £40,000 fine and £2,000 court costs, preventing the need for a full court hearing on the matter.

Charles Counsell, TPR's Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment, said: "The failure by Johnsons to act, despite our repeated warnings, left it with a completely unnecessary bill that was more than 100 times the amount it was originally fined.

"The vast majority of employers meet their automatic enrolment responsibilities. We will use all the powers available to us against the minority who choose to ignore their duties.

"Our message is clear: fail to comply with the law and you may be fined. Fail to pay your fine and we may take you to court."

All employers have legal duties and can use the Duties Checker on TPR's website to quickly understand exactly what they must do.

Employers experiencing challenges in meeting their automatic enrolment duties should contact TPR as early as possible to discuss their situation.

 

For more information on your legal duties as an employer visit www.actsmart.biz/pensions

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