A fresh start for Advo with a new HQ, expansion plans and focus on HR and payroll

Chris McCracken, Commercial Director of Advo, talks to Sarah Dale about the advantage of having centralised HR and payroll services and plans for growth from its new headquarters in Ditton.

Having centralised HR and payroll services has many advantages to SMEs, from reduced costs to expert advice at the end of the phone.

“At Advo, we act as the hub in the middle of their company centralising their HR and payroll services,” says Chris McCracken, Commercial Director.

Advo Group, which was established in 1997, started out as an insurance intermediary, later adding employee benefits, payroll and HR services to its remit. In July, Advo Group, formerly the employee benefit division of Advo, was sold to global insurance specialist, Brown & Brown (Europe). Advo-One, launched in July this year, is purely focused on providing HR and payroll services to clients.

Last year, Advo bought Cobdown House and its surrounding land and is currently carrying out £900,000 of renovations to the property. The firm, which is a member of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, plans to create a business hub on site, as well as being the new impressive base for their headquarters and to hold events.

A qualified Financial Adviser, Chris first joined the Advo Board in 2008. His role is to expand the HR and payroll client portfolios and manage Advo’s many strategic partnerships.

Their unique online portal, Advo One, underpins and connects all their services for clients. It can include employee benefits information, company documentation, staff perks, online payslips, absence management reporting and holiday booking and tracking. It provides everything a client needs regarding HR and payroll at the touch of a button and includes legislation updates and retains important information regarding cases. Having it online rather than relying on paper also makes it more environmentally friendly.

“HR and payroll are becoming more and more complicated, and rights are becoming more splintered,” says Chris.

“That makes it more difficult to make a compliant payroll. We do all of that and carry the can for the employer. When you start a business, you have the vision and the goal, but then you realise there are so many other ancillary things about the business which are a distraction but essential.

“Clients may need us for a one-off HR project or a retainer service where we are always at the end of the phone for advice and support. Having HR and payroll services centralised by a company like us is more cost-effective for SMEs than employing someone in-house to take care of it.

“When an employer has a knotty problem with an employee, we can also advise before they take action or make a decision.

“When clients ring us, they have a dedicated person for support rather than ringing a company and being offered lots of options which may not apply to your particular issue. You speak to real people who are qualified to help you and make things easier.

We also don’t rely on templates but provide a service tailored to individual clients.”

As well as the changes within the company and their work to renovate Cobdown House, Advo is also keen to expand its number of acquisitions over the coming years. At the start of November, they announced they had completed a deal to acquire Mustard Payroll for an undisclosed sum. Mustard Payroll was established in 2000 and the company processes the payrolls of hundreds of employers and charities in the UK. Their staff will be retained by Advo along with Director Emma Barnes who will help with integration.

Challenges within the sector include systemisation and the “complex arithmetic” which results from working out payroll.

“Staying agile is important; we keep on top of ever-changing legislation, so our clients know they are in safe hands,” he adds.

“We are on the same side of the table as the companies we work with.”

As HR specialists, Chris adds that it is important for them to “walk the walk as well as talk the talk” and they are proud to hold the Investors in People Gold certification.

Their website’s news section also provides added value to clients with information on legislation updates.

Advo joined Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce in July. As members under

Advo Group Ltd, they were keen to rejoin to maximise the networking opportunities the Chamber provides.

“It is an opportunity to meet people and make the right connections and build awareness of the brand,” says Chris.

“Kent Invicta Chamber’s events are varied, good and very well organised.”

Find out more at www.advo.co.uk