April
2025
Fairway Training was 25 years old on 1st April 2025. Following on from our original name of Fairway Training & Consultancy we became a Ltd company on 1st April 2000. We are very thankful to our loyal client base who have helped us to get where we are today. A lot has changed in that time, but we are still going strong, and we are looking forward to continuing to grow our unique brand of NHS Pensions and Payroll.
August
2024
Having spent 10 happy years at Prospect House the lease was renewed for another 10 years.
August
2023
August saw a major office and IT refurbushment to assist with new working practices and hybrid working. We are very proud of our office space.
July
2023
A new collaboration with PinfieldsIT to provide IT support to Fairway. This coincided with the installation of our own hosted servers in favour of a cloud solution.
June
2023
The return of our Family Funday and Fete for staff and their families.
April
2022
After a full consultation, a new management structure was implemented to assist in the growth of the company and to look to the long term. In addition a major change to the payroll workflows and scheduling was implemented to improve efficiency.
October
2021
Partnering with Compassion UK we were privileged to fund four new water systems in Burkina Faso in four regions. Bringing clean water to 995 Compassion sponsored children and community members.
July
2021
A new partnership with UKFast who would supply us with a cloud based solution for our core software.
January
2021
The number of payroll clients increased to 700 (even during the pandemic period!)
April
2020
A new era for Fairway as due to Government restrictions, Fairway Training started to working from Home (along with the majority of the country!)
April
2019
We took the decision to close the Pension Administration service in favour of only providing a combied Payroll and Pension service.
April
2018
A new paperless and workflow system known as Docuware began a trial period. This was to revolutionise the way that Fairway operated.
January
2017
In partnership with PayDashboard a new digital payslip was introduced replacing the traditional paper payslip. Intially this was only for larger clients with a view to implementing this for all clients in due course.
September
2016
The launch of our new database and website which has a fresh, modern and user friendly interface. The new website vastly improves the ability to service Fairway Training clients by providing a member area that is ‘fit for purpose’ and enables clients to locate and find all the relevant information in respect of NHS pensions and payroll.
January
2016
600 Payroll clients milestone achieved.
June
2015
Once again partnering with Compassion UK, Fairway Training visited three projects in Tanzania looking at the effects of a business school that was funded and the new kitchen and storage facilities at children’s centres in rural Tanzania.
March
2015
Fairway Training said goodbye to its founder and original owner Philip Weatherall who retired. In addition we said goodbye to his wife Hilary who had also worked in the company since its inception. Andrew Shirley took over as Managing Director with an established management team and a new era for fairway Training began.
January
2015
500 Payroll clients milestone achieved.
September
2014
Following 12 very happy years at Bordesley Hall the time had come to seek more suitable premises to accommodate the growing business which now consisted of 34 staff. The split between services were, 20 dedicated to payroll production and 12 to support services, pension administration and training. Prospect House became our new home and was a major step forward. Bordesley Hall had served the company well but the new modern, professional and accessible offices will be the home of Fairway Training for the next 10 years.
January
2014
Partnering with Compassion UK, Fairway Training staff visit Lome, the capital of Togo, to see the water filtration project funded by Fairway Training as part of the new philanthropic principles adopted in June 2013.
October
2013
400 Payroll clients milestone achieved.
feb
2012
A new partnership was entered into with DatatechUK. A local company which we now partner with to provide all our IT and telecom needs. As part of this new era there was a complete overhaul and replacement of IT equipment including servers and PCs. It was a major investment for the future at that time.
June
2011
300 Payroll clients milestone achieved.
February
2009
200 Payroll clients milestone achieved.
April
2008
The NHS Pension Scheme has its first major change for 23 years and the 2008 Scheme is started on 1st April 2008 for all new entrants the NHS pension Scheme.
May
2005
The first major milestone of 100 payroll clients was reached.
April
2004
NHS Pensions launched Pensions Online in 2002 which was new facility to allow direct inputting of data such as year-end (SD55) returns. This proved to be a major challenge for Fairway as initially this was only available to NHS establishments who had an N3 connection. Following a successful application Fairway Training became a ‘Trusted Third Party’ and achieved NHSnet connectivity through the sponsorship of NHS Pensions. This was a major step forward as for the first time and uniquely at that time, a third party payroll provider for GP Practices was able to utlilise fully the Pensions Online (POL) facility.
December
2002
With the number of payroll clients beginning to grow an important development would be the ability to transmit payments via BACS. After an initial application and rigorous inspection by BACS, Fairway Training was approved aa a BACS commercial bureau which greatly improved the quality of service that was being provided to payroll clients.
November
2002
With the company expanding and the workforce now up to 5 employees! Fairway Training moved from a home working organisation to formal office based premises at Bordesley Hall in Alvechurch which would become its base for another 12 years.
April
2002
The next logical step for Practices to take would be to outsource their full payroll and pension administration. After much debate it was decided that Fairway should offer this service and so in April 2002, still based in home offices, Fairway Training welcomed its first 5 payroll customers using SAGE payroll for processing. All 5 customers are still with Fairway Training using the much changed and improved payroll service.
April
2001
The training courses on offer were as popular as ever, but an increasing number of Practice Managers were arriving at the conclusion that they did not want to or did not have time to administer the Scheme. The Pension Administration service (or outsourcing service as it was then known) was started.
April
2000
April 2000 saw the formation of Fairway Training Limited. This recognized that the company was gaining momentum and the demand for training increasing.
January
2000
January 2000 saw the arrival of Andrew Shirley who was previously the Treasury Manager at Solihull Healthcare NHS Trust. He had extensive experience in NHS payroll and pensions and prior to Solihull Healthcare was Payroll Manager at the West Midlands Regional Health Authority. Andrew renewed his working relationship with Philip have previously delivered training courses with Philip for the Association of Payroll and Pension Administrators (APSA).
April
1999
Following the initial success of the training courses offered, the Support Service was established which offered Practice Managers the opportunity to ring Fairway with queries and questions that arose throughout the year. The first organisation to sign up on a pilot scheme was Avon Health Authority (now defunct) but many of the original Practices are still with Fairway Training Ltd.
September
1998
A new small company, Fairway Training and Consultancy Services founded by Phillip Weatherall, started offering training courses specifically aimed at GP Practices and specialising in the NHS Pension Scheme. Initially 2 hour 'taster' sessions were held at venues around the country. These were massively oversubscribed and a 'niche' market was opened up.
September
1997
September 1997 was a pivotal moment in the Life of the NHS Pension Scheme as staff at GP Practices were allowed into the Scheme for the very first time and overnight 10,500 GP Practices started to enroll their staff.