The Plan Group expands MHR partnership to cut payroll errors and empower employees to own their financial wellbeing
Having used People First to manage its workforce and increase employee engagement since 2019, the insurance brokerage has now moved its payroll onto the platform, cutting admin time, meeting compliance requirements, and reducing errors for its hybrid team.
MHR, the specialist provider of HR, payroll, and finance software, is working with The Plan Group, a market-leading insurance brokerage in niche commercial and personal lines insurance, on an expanded partnership that has brought the company’s payroll onto the People First platform alongside its existing HR operations.
The Plan Group, which employs 62 people across offices in Surrey and South Wales, first adopted People First in 2019 following a period of rapid growth and a major restructure. At the time, the company needed a way to manage and visualise its changing reporting structure, and to keep a newly acquired office in Wales connected to the rest of the business.
People First has given The Plan Group full visibility over its organisational structure, replaced routine internal emails with a single newsfeed for company updates and recognitions, and become the first point of reference for HR policies across the business – all while managing evolving regulations from the Employment Rights Act.
The company moved its payroll onto People First within the last 12 months and estimates it has saved around eight hours a month in the team’s time as a result, with fewer payroll errors, as employees can view and query their payslip in real time before sign-off.
Susie Wilson, Head of HR and Risk at The Plan Group, said: “We’ve been using People First for the last six years, and now we’re using People First Payroll, it’s completely changed the way we share information with our workforce. We’d become used to a complicated system and not quite receiving the support we needed given our multi-location business, but now everything is in one place, and most importantly, we’ve got a smooth process in place for our employees. People First is regularly mentioned as the reason they feel kept in the loop, and we’re thrilled that it’s made such a difference in how supported everyone feels.”
Anton Roe, CEO at MHR, said: “The Plan Group's experience shows how the right technology can support an SME through business growth and change, giving leadership the visibility they need, connecting a hybrid workforce, and freeing up HR teams to focus on people rather than process. It’s been a big year for HR and payroll teams as they navigate a whole set of new rules and regulations, and for The Plan Group, we know this is added onto the compliance requirements they already face as an insurance brokerage. We’re proud to provide them with a helpful hand to manage these changes, and keep their workforce engaged no matter where they’re based.”
The Plan Group's experience reflects a wider shift among SMEs in regulated sectors like insurance, who are increasingly investing in HR technology to manage growth without adding headcount.
