Book your space at Essex’s pensions workshop

SPACES remain on a pensions workshop to be held on 14 May at Essex Police Headquarters.

Five seminars have been held so far, and two more on 7 and 8 May are already fully booked.

The sessions, which address the transition into the 2015 CARE scheme, tapered protection, lump sums and the differences and protections of the various pension scheme have been of great value to officers who have attended, said Monty Montgomery, General Secretary of Essex Police Federation.

Mr Montgomery said: “We were approached by members because they weren’t being given [enough] information by the pensions provider and the information that was given was not easy to digest.

“We had been given the regulations and certain guidelines but they were not easy to understand. So we approached Police Mutual and they agreed to do the workshops. They have been incredibly successful.

“The presentations are really easy to understand and there are question-and-answer sessions at the end so every officer’s concern is addressed. The feedback that we have had so far is that everyone found the sessions useful.

“People are realising that the scheme isn’t as bad as they first thought when the rumour mill kicked off. They are actually finding the new scheme has lots of benefit and there are huge benefits to staying on the scheme rather than opting out. I would absolutely encourage people to go along.”

There are no further sessions booked beyond the May seminars, however if the demand is there the Federation will set up further sessions later in the year.

To secure your place on 14 May workshop, book online at http://www.essex.polfed.org/.