Association of MNTs launches manifesto

The association, which launched in September, is targeting the 14,000 member-nominated trustees (MNTs) in the UK.

It has also launched a ‘friends of’ group, with the intention of attracting support from “progressively-minded commercial businesses, trade bodies, government departments, unions and other organisations”.

The manifesto was written by the association’s co-chairs, Janice Turner, MNT of the Bectu Staff Retirement Scheme, and Barry Parr, member-nominated director of the Orange Pension Scheme.

It states: “We believe that member nominees have needs that are not fully catered for elsewhere, yet they have a unique perspective within the pensions industry and they have to deal with a specific set of challenges, constraints and conflicts.”

The manifesto outlines the association’s seven main aims:

• Support the development of MNTs
• Provide a collective voice for MNTs when lobbying the regulator and on other pension matters
• Support training for MNTs’ needs
• Champion best practice
• Provide a networking environment for MNTs
• Provide support for sponsors
• Conduct research to aid trustees improve their performance

The AMNT was launched by Pitmans Trustees and its first meeting included representatives from schemes such as Aegon, Atkins, Clariant, Coats, Heygate, ICI, Marks & Spencer, Kas Bank, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Telent and United Technologies Corporation.

Also in the manifesto are details about the ‘friends of’ group, which hopes to attract sponsoring employers, service providers, unions and industry bodies.

The document adds: “We are keen to enlist support from any entity that believes in the basic premise that member nominees have an important job to do and should be given as much support as possible.”

To see the full manifesto and for more information on joining, visit the AMNT launch website .