Charles Cotton Public Policy Adviser on Reward Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Charles Cotton is the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)’s reward specialist. He has worked with some of the UK’s leading organisations to create a range of good practice reward products and diagnostic tools for HR practitioners. He directs the CIPD’s reward research agenda and recently produced a free member guide on the annual pay review process.

Charles is also responsible for the CIPD’s public policy work in the area of reward. He has given evidence to select committees on banking pay and redundancy awards, as well as responding to various consultations, such as on pensions, retirement and MPs’ expenses. Charles frequently appears in the media commentating on reward and is often invited to present on his research at conferences and events. He also regularly contributes to the CIPD reward blog.

Jo Jennings Employment Services Manager                                                     West Sussex County Council

Jo joined the NHS as a Payroll Assistant and stayed there for 10 years, working her way up to Executive Officer in a supervisory position. She then went on to work at Portsmouth City Council, still in payroll, but dealing purely with monthly salaried staff rather than weekly paid, with timesheets. When Portsmouth gained Unitary status Jo was given the opportunity to join the project team, where she was part of the implementation team and took responsibility for training staff and documenting new processes. In November 1995 she was seconded to the marketing department at the Council as Personnel Officer.

After 10 years there, Jo joined Southampton City College as HR and Payroll Officer. She was at Southampton for just two years as she was then offered the post of Payroll Manager at the University of Portsmouth.

Jo joined West Sussex County Council in 2003 as Payroll Manager. Her new role as Employment Services Manager covers recruitment, pay, HR, and pensions. She also manages an HR Customer Service team based in Bognor Regis.

Dave R Ellis OBE Head of Employer Strategy                                    HM Revenue & Customs

David is a senior civil servant with HM Revenue & Customs. He joined the Inland Revenue in 1975 and has served in a number of operational and strategic leadership roles as a qualified tax professional in compliance, people development, international assistance, debt management, finance and relationship management. He is currently Head of Employer Strategy. David was also accountable for leading the department’s response to the effects of Foot and Mouth Disease and since then for the response to other national disasters and difficulties.

David was appointed Chairman of the Board of a Hospice in South West Hertfordshire in 2011, and became a Governor of a School in February 2007 and is currently Chairman of Personnel.

David was awarded an OBE in 2001 for his service to HM Board of Inland Revenue, was admitted to the Chartered Management Institute in 1993 and qualified as a tax professional in 1982.

Helen Paxton Head of Reward People Systems & Policy, Sainsbury’s

Helen has been with Sainsbury’s for 20 years. She started her career as a Trainee Manager in stores before rising to Deputy Store Manager. She then made the switch into corporate HR, working in learning and development before moving on to lead a number of core HR projects, using her operational experience to design fit-for-purpose solutions and implement changes across all locations effectively. In 2007 Helen took on a key change management role, leading a team to deliver significant process, systems and organisational changes within the store HR function. This change programme enabled the transition to an integrated HR business partnership model, something that has led to more effective and modernised ways of working at Sainsbury’s. In recognition of her work Helen was appointed into her current role as Head of Reward, People Systems & Policy, in 2010, with accountability for developing and delivering Sainsbury’s reward strategy. Helen and her team make sure that Sainsbury’s offers fair and competitive pay and benefits at all levels, and policies that engage colleagues, ensuring it continues to be a great place to work.

Ian Hodson Reward and Benefits Manager                                           University of Lincoln

Ian is the Reward and Benefits Manager at the University of Lincoln, overseeing all aspects of reward including payroll, pensions, role evaluation and employee benefits. Having started his career in finance before moving specifically into payroll and pensions, Ian has a background in both the public and private sector having previously worked for Moy Park, Egg PLC and Lincolnshire County Council. Ian works closely with the Northern Universities Reward Group and the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, where he is often a guest speaker. He is a firm believer and champion in the importance of pay and benefits as a driver for change and supporting organisational agendas. Ian has previously overseen teams that have been acknowledged for their achievements at sector awards for pay and benefits.

Paul Tew Freelancer Adviser

Paul Tew is a long-standing freelance adviser,primarily in the areas of pay, personal taxation and remuneration planning. He has held senior financial positions with several major UK companies, in addition to editing a number of payroll magazines. A frequent contributor to technical journals on pay and benefits issues, having had several books published on a variety of subject matters including Pay As You Earn (PAYE), National Insurance contributions, sickness and maternity pay. He has many years of experience in dealing with PAYE audit and compliance issues across a broad range of industries and employers. 

Linda Pullan Head of Payroll Alliance

Linda Pullan has many years’ payroll experience. She has worked as the Payroll, Statutory Sick Pay and Expenses Manager for the Daily Telegraph Group, and spent 10 years as Education Manager for Payroll Alliance. There she was responsible for writing and delivering a wide range of payroll courses and BTEC accredited examinations.

She set up Payroll World’s payroll training and was Technical Editor of the magazine. Linda rejoined Payroll Alliance in 2006 as Head.

Linda is a member of a number of Government consultation panels, the IReeN committee and a regular speaker at payroll conferences.

She was voted one of the Top 50 in Payroll by Payroll World readers in 2009, 2010 and 2011.