Payroll Training Course – CPD Accredited (4 Days)

Our Payroll Training course is a 4-day course (2 days payroll theory, 2 days hands-on Sage 50 Payroll).” Just so the page name and body name match.

Key points will consist of:

Payroll Theory: (Day 1 and 2)

• Topic 1: Payroll Administration
• Topic 2: Introduction / Employment Law
• Topic 3: Starters and Leavers
• Topic 4: Tax
• Topic 5: National Insurance Contribution
• Topic 6: Minimum Wage
• Topic 7: Holiday Leave
• Topic 8: SSP
• Topic 9: SMP
• Topic 10: Student Loan
• Topic 11: Child Care
• Topic 12: Automatic Enrolment

Sage Payroll: (Day 3)

• Navigate confidently in Sage 50 Payroll
• Check the legislation settings in your software
• Configure your software to suit your company requirements

Set-up and amend:

• Employee Records
• Payments and Deduction
• Basic Pension Schemes
• Users and Access Rights
• Understand reports in the system that aid in the completion of tasks such as Pay Elements Reports and Company Detail reports
• Run a basic weekly or monthly payroll
• Email appropriate payslips to employees
• Perform and submit RTI routines including:
• Full Payment Submission (FPS)
• National Insurance Number Verification (NVR)
• Employer Payment Summary (EPS)
• Correct errors during processing using the Rollback and Restore functions
• Set up new starters and process leavers
• Complete Period End Routines including producing the P3
• Process electronic payments to employees and HMRC directly from Sage Payroll

Day 4: Left for Practice on Sage Payroll Software, candidates will require laptops.

Please note that SAGE installation does not support MAC. The only way round this is if your MAC system has the latest Windows Emulator. 

The Payroll Training course is designed for anyone responsible for running, supporting, or learning payroll in a UK business — whether that’s day one of your career or a refresher after years out of the role. It’s particularly suited to:

• HR professionals and HR assistants who need to understand payroll to support employees confidently and answer pay queries accurately.
• Payroll administrators and clerks new to the role, or moving from a manual to a software-based process.
• Small business owners and directors who run payroll in-house and want to do it correctly without relying on an external bureau.
• Finance and bookkeeping professionals broadening their skill set into payroll.
• Career changers stepping into payroll for the first time — no prior experience is required.

You don’t need any qualifications to start; the course is built to take complete beginners through to confident, accurate processing in four days.

If you only need the software side, see our 2-day Sage Payroll Training. If you only need the theory, our Payroll Theory Training covers Days 1–2 on their own.

By the end of the four days, you’ll be able to:

• Run a full UK payroll cycle confidently — weekly or monthly — for a real business.
• Apply correct tax codes, National Insurance contributions, and statutory deductions.
• Process statutory payments accurately, including SSP, SMP, holiday pay, and student loan deductions.
• Handle starters, leavers, and pension auto-enrolment in line with HMRC requirements.
• Set up and navigate Sage 50 Payroll: configure the software, manage employee records, run payslips, and produce reports.
• Understand the legal framework around payroll and stay on the right side of current legislation.

You’ll leave with practical, hands-on experience — not just theory — and the confidence to take on payroll responsibilities the day you return to work.

A few things genuinely set our Payroll Training course apart:

• Genuinely accredited. The course is CPD-accredited, and you’ll leave with a Sage Payroll Level 1 certificate alongside your CPD certificate.
• Free Sage Payroll licence included so you can practise on the same software you’ll use at work.
• Two formats, your choice. Train live in our London classroom or join the same course virtually from anywhere in the UK.
• Small class sizes — you get real attention from the trainer, not lost in a room of fifty.
• UK trainers with real-world experience — every session is led by a working payroll professional, not someone reading from a slide deck.
• 0% interest-free payment plans available if you’d rather spread the cost.
• Bespoke options if you’re training a whole team — we’ll come to you or tailor the content for your business.

Virtual Live Classroom – £ 550

• 14th – 17th September 2026
• 12th – 15th October 2026
• 16th – 19th November 2026
• 07th – 10th December 2026

London – King Cross – (£800) *Hybrid classroom will be covered as 2 Days Payroll Theory as Face2Face Classroom and 2 Days Sage Payroll as Virtual classroom.

Manchester Face to Face Classroom – (Enquire for Pricing)
*Hybrid classroom will be covered as 2 Days Payroll Theory as Face2Face Classroom and 2 Days Sage Payroll as Virtual classroom.

Everyone who completes the course gets:

Q: Do I need any prior experience to take this course? A: No. The Payroll Training course is designed to take complete beginners through to confident, accurate processing. If you’ve never seen a payslip in your life, you’ll still be fine.

Q: How long is the course? A: Four days in total: two days of payroll theory followed by two days of hands-on Sage 50 Payroll practical training.

Q: Can I take this course online? A: Yes. The course is delivered as either a live virtual classroom (live with a real trainer, just over a screen) or in person at our London venue. You choose the format that works for you.

Q: What certification will I receive? A: Two: a CPD-accredited Course Completion Certificate from Acudemy, and a Sage Payroll Level 1 Certificate accredited by Sage.

Q: Is Sage Payroll software included? A: Yes — a free Sage Payroll licence is included with the course so you can practise after the training as well as during it.

Q: Can the course be delivered on-site for my team? A: Yes. We offer bespoke on-site delivery for teams and businesses across the UK. Please enquire for details.

Q: Is there a payment plan? A: We offer 0% interest-free payment plans, so you can spread the cost rather than paying upfront. Speak to us when you enquire.

Q: Will this course help me get a job in payroll? A: The course gives you the practical, software-led skills employers look for in entry-level payroll roles, alongside two accredited certificates to evidence your training. We also include guidance on next steps in your payroll career.