Small businesses trying to get to grips with Automatic Enrolment for the first time are the target of a new online service.

The rebranded NAPF, which has changed name in recent days to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, has launched Pension Solution, which offers a step by step guide.

The body said that it will help busy owners of nearly two million small businesses to get set up with Automatic Enrolment – from what needs to be done by when, to how much it will cost and which employees must be enrolled. The service costs £49 for a year’s membership, including access to the tools and templates.

The organisation said that an impartial guide to pension providers in the market allows small business owners to compare one provider against another and includes ratings and reviews from other employers who have used the provider.

Lesley Williams, chair of the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, said: “The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association knows pensions inside out – our largest members were the first to tackle Automatic Enrolment so we’re familiar with the problems businesses encounter on the way and we also know the solutions.

“We’ve used our expertise to create Pension Solution, designed purposely for small businesses to make Automatic Enrolment simple and straightforward for them, and to make sure it really works for them we are also letting them add their own experiences and views on providers.

“Small businesses employ millions of people in the UK and we want to help all those employers and employees get a great workplace pension scheme in place.

“I know from personal experience it can be tough rolling out Automatic Enrolment to your employees for the first time, even in a big company, and small businesses are just as busy and often have less experience of running a pension scheme.”

Baroness Altman, Minister of State for Pensions, said: “I am delighted to see the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association launch a new initiative to help employers manage Automatic Enrolment. We need Automatic Enrolment to be as straightforward as possible, which is why I have been working with the Pensions Regulator on new initiatives to help employers fulfil their duties and comply with the law.”