The impending changes to workplace pensions, which start in just over 12 months time for major employers, are possibly the biggest pensions reforms in our lifetime and will feature greatly in many company's consciousness over the next few years or so, and beyond.

For many employers in the private sector, compulsory Workplace Pensions Reforms present a significant challenge, both in terms of the direct costs of a scheme but also the indirect cost of compliance with the various duties for employers.

The reforms are being introduced gradually over 4 years from autumn 2012, with the largest employers needing to comply in 2012 and the smaller employers gradually being introduced to the reforms over the 4 year term.

Each employer is