More than a partnership: Building a stronger payroll profession

The best partnerships aren’t measured by the agreements that are signed. They’re measured by the difference they make.

When we – the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) and Portfolio Payroll – became Corporate Partners in April 2025, our ambition wasn’t simply to formalise a relationship that had already existed for more than 20 years. It was to work together to strengthen the payroll profession, guide the people within it, and help shape its future.

One year on, we’re proud to look back at what we’ve achieved together, and even more excited about what’s still to come.

For both organisations, this collaboration has been about bringing together two different areas of expertise, united by a shared purpose.

The CIPP develops, encourages, and represents payroll professionals. Portfolio Payroll understands the market they work in, helping organisations build exceptional payroll teams while supporting professionals throughout their careers.

Together, we’ve been able to advocate for, and reinforce, the priorities of the pay industry, bringing together our respective expertise, networks and perspectives, to create greater impact and influence.

Turning shared ambition into action

One of the first opportunities to kick-off our partnership came before the agreement was even officially signed.

Portfolio Payroll proudly supported the CIPP’s debut Pay Live event in London in March 2025, before returning for Pay Live Manchester later that year. We took to the stage to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing the profession today: attracting and developing the next generation of payroll professionals.

Those conversations naturally evolved into wider discussions around the value of professional qualifications, the changing skills employers are looking for and how we can continue positioning payroll as the rewarding, strategic career it truly is.

As Headline Sponsor of National Payroll Week, it was the perfect occasion to expand our work together. From exhibiting at the CIPP’s Payroll Services Summit, to delivering our first collaborative webinar, we have created more moments to share knowledge, connect with payroll professionals and celebrate the vital contribution payroll makes to businesses across the UK.

Supporting every stage of the Payroll journey

Throughout the year, we’ve looked at practical ways to support payroll professionals throughout their careers, from those entering the profession for the first time through to experienced payroll leaders.

The CIPP re-launched their dedicated payroll job board, now careersinpayroll.com in collaboration with Portfolio Payroll, making it easier for payroll job seekers to find specialist opportunities while providing employers with a cost-effective way to connect with experienced talent.

Recognising that recruitment is only one part of building successful payroll teams, Portfolio Payroll also became a reseller of Payroll Quick Learn (PQL), the CIPP’s new flexible self-service training platform offering bite-sized, one-hour learning sessions. Designed to upskill payroll professionals, reinforce existing knowledge, address skills gaps and support effective onboarding, PQL helps organisations keep their teams up to date as legislation, processes and best practice continue to evolve.

Behind the scenes, we’ve also been delighted to assist the CIPP’s research into the future of payroll education and qualifications. By giving payrollers, both operational and management, a platform to share their experiences, views, challenges and aspirations, we’re helping ensure future learning reflects the realities of today’s profession and the demands of tomorrow’s workforce.

The partnership has also enhanced the way we gather and share industry insight. By combining research, data and feedback from both our payroll networks, we’re able to build a more complete picture of the profession, producing richer market intelligence that benefits employers, informs professionals and helps shape future industry conversations.

Bringing different strengths together

One of the greatest strengths of this partnership is that each organisation brings something different to the profession.

The CIPP develops payroll professionals through education, guidance and professional standards.

Portfolio Payroll sees first-hand how the profession is evolving, speaking daily with employers about the skills they need and with payroll professionals about their careers, ambitions and the challenges they face.

By bringing those perspectives together, we’re creating a stronger connection between education, professional development and employment, helping ensure the profession continues evolving in line with the needs of both individuals and businesses.

For the CIPP, this is exactly what corporate partnership is designed to achieve.

Daniel Cull, Commercial Development Manager at the CIPP, explains:

“When people hear the phrase ‘corporate partnership’, they sometimes picture a logo on a website, a stand at a conference and a few polite emails throughout the year. Thankfully, both the CIPP and Portfolio Payroll expect a little more than that.

At the CIPP, we don’t view corporate partnerships as sponsorship. We view them as strategic relationships that help us deliver our mission and strengthen the payroll profession.

Over the past year, Portfolio Payroll has helped us create opportunities for collaboration, support lifelong learning, amplify expertise across the industry and continue raising standards throughout the profession. That’s exactly what we hoped this partnership would achieve.

What makes this partnership work is that we each bring different strengths, but we’re working towards exactly the same goal: a stronger, more visible and better supported payroll profession.”

Anthony Macey, Chief Operations Officer at Portfolio Payroll, added:

“When we became Corporate Partners last year, it reinforced something we’ve believed for a long time: recruitment should be about far more than filling vacancies.

At Portfolio Payroll, our vision has always been to become a true talent partner for our clients, supporting them before, during and long after the recruitment process. Working alongside the CIPP allows us to do exactly that. Together, we’re sharing knowledge, advocating for one another’s services and giving employers and payroll professionals access to the tools, insight and support they need to succeed.

Payroll deserves greater recognition as a profession, and that recognition starts with shared messages backed by meaningful data. Whether it’s championing professional development, highlighting skills in demand or using our research to demonstrate why competitive salaries and investment in payroll matter, we’re helping businesses see payroll not simply as an administrative function, but as a strategic one.

Looking back over the past year, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact we’ve already made together. We’ve built strong foundations, and we’re excited to continue working with the CIPP to support the profession and everyone within it.”

Looking ahead

Payroll continues to evolve.

Technology is changing the way we work. Skills requirements continue to develop. Businesses are asking more of their payroll teams than ever before, while attracting and retaining talented payroll professionals remains one of the industry’s biggest priorities.

These are challenges neither organisation can solve alone.

Payroll deserves greater recognition.

Recognition as a skilled profession. Recognition as a strategic business function. Recognition for the people whose expertise ensures millions of employees are paid accurately and on time.

Together, the CIPP and Portfolio Payroll are committed to playing our part. By combining professional expertise, industry knowledge and shared research, we’re helping to shape conversations, influence decision-making and create opportunities that strengthen the profession for everyone.

We’ve achieved a great deal during our first year as Corporate Partners, but our ambition reaches far beyond the last twelve months.

Because this has never been about the partnership itself.

It’s about building a stronger, more visible and more respected payroll profession for the future.