The ABM Learning Academy
Where high-performing payroll bureaus are built.
Five learning streams covering leadership, commercial growth, technical excellence, career development and wellbeing, built around the realities of running a payroll bureau. Start with free member resources, then choose the programmes your business needs, when it needs them.
Where high-performing payroll bureaus are built.
Five learning streams covering leadership, commercial growth, technical excellence, career development and wellbeing, built around the realities of running a payroll bureau. Start with free member resources, then choose the programmes your business needs, when it needs them.
Why We Exist
The ABM Academy is here to help bureau owners, leaders and their teams keep learning, developing and growing.
Members can develop skills across every area of running and working within a successful bureau, from technical expertise and compliance to leadership, people development and business growth.
Together, we’re helping our members deal with change, strengthen their teams, improve the service they provide and build better, stronger bureaus.
How it works
Your development, your way.
The Academy is a benefit of ABM membership, built so you invest only in what moves your bureau forward.
Free tools for every member
A growing library of academy resources in the member area, available whenever you need it.
Book what you need
Programmes, webinars and courses, each booked individually at member rates. No fixed curriculum and no commitment to the full Academy, so you stay in control of where your time and budget go.
Built for bureaus
Designed around the rhythm of a deadline-led payroll business.
Every level
Development for owners, managers and the next generation of payroll talent.
Practical by design
Every session produces something you can put to work straight away.
Not an ABM member yet?
Many Academy programmes are open to non-members. Join ABM for member pricing and free access to the Academy resource library.
Business Strategy & Development
NOW BOOKING
Next cohort starts
Wednesday 4th November 2026
SCALE: build a bureau that grows by design.
A six-month, coaching-led programme for bureau owners ready to step back, think strategically and build a business that's more scalable and less dependent on them. You'll work in a small cohort of fellow bureau leaders, pairing practical tools with honest peer conversation and expert coaching.
"
SCALE has helped me get everything out of my head and turn it into a clearer plan, with more structure, organisation and strategy around where the business is going.
Steve Cox, SCALE pilot cohort
The five learning streams
Five streams. One
standard of excellence.
01
Launched October 2026
Leadership & Management
Develop confident, people-focused leaders at every level of your bureau.
02
Next cohort: 4 Nov 2026
Business Strategy & Development =
The SCALE Programme
Sharpen your commercial thinking and build a business that grows by design.
03
Launching 24 Nov 2026
Wellbeing & Resilience
Sustained high performance starts with the people behind it, led by Nikki Huntwood.
04
Coming 2027
Technical Excellence
The foundation of the profession, delivered with leading payroll experts and technical bodies.
05
Coming 2027
Career Pathways
Build the next generation of payroll talent, and a pipeline your bureau can grow with.
MEMBER FEEDBACK
ABM is making a real difference
ABM is not just about bringing people together. It is about helping payroll bureau leaders make better decisions, strengthen performance and feel less isolated in a sector that carries huge responsibility.
When bureau leaders come together, performance follows.
“Membership of the ABM has helped me respond more confidently to the challenges I face”
90% of members strongly agree or agree
SCALE : Six months. Six Practice outputs.
01
Positioning & Direction
Your niche statement and next steps
02
Client & Business Value
Your ideal client profile and value message
03
Service Operations
A process map and your top improvement priority
04
Strategic Decision-Making
A framework and script for high-stakes conversations
05
90-Day Execution
A 90-day plan and KPI set
06
Retention & Reputation
A retention plan and referral sequence
What's included
6 × 90-minute live online workshops
3 × one-to-one coaching sessions
3 × cohort group coaching sessions
Practical tools and a visible output after every session
Every workshop ends with a commitment: one decision, one action and one metric for the next 30 days.
"It's been really valuable having a small group of bureau leaders talking openly about the challenges we're all facing and learning from each other."
Craig Parsons, SCALE pilot cohort
Who it's for & investment
Independent bureau owners, from sole traders to growing firms of around 8–10 people, who want to work on the business as well as in it.
ABM members
£1,950 (£325/mo)
Non-members
£2400 (£300/mo)
What our members say
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re charging enough, handling something the right way, or whether a problem is unique to you, it almost certainly isn’t, and someone in the ABM has already solved it. Just join.
Craig Parsons
This association is fantastic and is already making waves through the industry, which is amazing — great to see how we all work together to help each other better our businesses.
Marc Johnson
Joining the Association of Bureau Managers has connected me with a valuable network of peers I can rely on for advice anytime. It has also given me the confidence to significantly grow our payroll revenues.
Helen Connell
Leadership & Management ·
Q1 2027
RISE: Develop the leaders your bureau needs to grow.
RISE is a six-month leadership and management programme designed to develop confident, people-focused leaders at every level.
Combining practical workshops, psychometric profiling, peer learning and one-to-one coaching, participants build the confidence and skills to lead people well, have better conversations, manage performance and create stronger, higher-performing teams.
For bureau owners, senior leaders, experienced managers and those stepping into leadership.
Small confidential cohorts, six months
Small confidential cohorts · 1:1 executive coaching · Executive peer group · Six months, alternating one-to-one and group sessions.
ABM members
£1,950 + vat (£325/mo)
Non-members
£2,400 + vat (£400/mo?)
Performance
that lasts.
The Wellbeing & Resilience stream launches with a live webinar led by Nikki Huntwood. The session focuses on how the strongest bureau leaders protect their energy, build resilience across their teams, and sustain high performance through the busiest points of the payroll year.
Tuesday 24th November 1pm
Free
Bureau Management Conference 2026 delegates
£49
ABM members
£99
Non-members
Upcoming events
Learning, connection
and inspiration.
23
Nov 2026
Business Strategy
SCALE — Cohort 2
Next cohort is going to start
24
Nov 2026
Wellbeing
Wellbeing Webinar
Live session with Nikki Huntwood
Oct
2026
date TBC
Leadership
RISE — Launch
Leadership stream launches
27
Technical &
Career
Coming 2027
Two new streams
Technical Excellence & Career Pathways launch
Upcoming events
Learning, connection
and inspiration.
23
Nov 2026
Business Strategy
SCALE — Cohort 2
Next cohort is going to start
24
Nov 2026
Wellbeing
Wellbeing Webinar
Live session with Nikki Huntwood
Oct
2026
date TBC
Leadership
RISE — Launch
Leadership stream launches
27
Technical &
Career
Coming 2027
Two new streams
Technical Excellence & Career Pathways launch
Sponsored & Trusted by
FAQ's
Got questions? We've got
answers.
Got questions? We’ve rounded up answers to the most common queries to help you get the clarity you need quickly. Browse through the topics below to find instant solutions and learn more about our services.
Is the Academy included in my membership?
Every ABM member has free access to Academy resources in the member area. Programmes, webinars and courses are booked individually at member rates, so you choose exactly what fits your business.
Can non-members take part?
Yes. SCALE, RISE and selected webinars are open to non-members at a non-member rate. ABM members benefit from lower pricing and free access to the Academy resource library.
Are sessions online?
Yes. All workshops and coaching sessions are live and online, designed to fit around your payroll calendar.
How much time do SCALE and RISE take?
Each month there is one 90-minute workshop plus one coaching session, alternating between one-to-one and group.
Can I book more than one person from my bureau?
Yes. Bringing your leadership team builds shared priorities and faster momentum.
What's the difference between SCALE and RISE?
SCALE focuses on the business: positioning, pricing, operations and growth. RISE focuses on you and your people: leadership, team performance and management capability.
The future of the profession is built by those who invest in it.
Choose your stream, join the leaders already building stronger bureaus, and lead with purpose.