As more schemes outsource administration abroad, the skills and support available to international teams will directly shape saver outcomes. Varsha Gicas, chief customer officer at the Pensions Management Institute (PMI), reflects on her recent visit to India and explains why investing in global professionals is essential to raising standards across the industry.
This year, we expect to see more UK pension schemes outsourcing key functions abroad. Global delivery models are now central to how our industry operates, particularly in administration.
But to improve and protect saver outcomes, we must ensure that the people carrying out this vital work, wherever they are based, have the skills, standards and professional identity they need.
That belief was reinforced during my recent visit to Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Bangalore, where I met thousands of highly skilled professionals who support UK pension schemes every day.
What I encountered was not just operational capability but a committed, ambitious and deeply invested community that sees itself as part of the UK pensions ecosystem, even if it is not always recognised.
“As outsourcing expands, our definition of what it means to be a UK pensions professional must expand with it.”
Varsha Gicas, Pensions Management Institute
India is not a peripheral market. It is now a key structural component of UK pensions delivery. As the PMI implements its 2025-2028 membership strategy, expanding our presence in India is not simply an opportunity for growth; it is essential to maintaining professional standards across a globalised operating model.
A community that deserves to be seen
Across a week of meetings with senior leaders, learning and development teams, administrators and colleges, one message came through clearly: these professionals want parity. They want to be included in the conversations that shape our sector. They want visibility for the work they do. And they want recognition as UK pensions professionals in their own right.
There are now several thousand people in India delivering UK pensions administration, and the number is growing. As outsourcing expands, our definition of what it means to be a UK pensions professional must expand with it.
One of the most consistent observations from my visit was the absence of a neutral, profession-led space for pensions professionals in India to collaborate across organisations. Despite working in a highly interconnected ecosystem, there is no shared forum for learning, networking, or exchanging best practices.
Bridging the knowledge gap
Professionals in India value structured development pathways, shared learning environments, and visible recognition of achievement. A neutral forum could provide a collective identity, a space for cross‑organisational dialogue, and a stronger connection to the UK pensions profession.
The PMI is now exploring the establishment of an India regional network, supported by structured continuing professional development, qualifications access, and employer partnerships.
Another theme that emerged repeatedly was the steep learning curve faced by new graduates entering UK pensions roles in India. With limited exposure to the UK financial services landscape during their studies, it can take up to two years for junior administrators to become fully productive.
“If we fail to invest in the professional identity and capability of global pensions teams, we risk creating a two-tier profession. If we invest well, we strengthen the entire system.”
Varsha Gicas, Pensions Management Institute
This challenge presents a significant opportunity. Employers and universities alike expressed strong interest in developing partnerships that would introduce students to the fundamentals of UK pensions before they enter the workforce. Such pathways could dramatically reduce the time it takes to reach productivity and strengthen capability.
Why this matters now
As more schemes rely on global delivery models, the professionals serving UK savers are no longer confined to UK borders. Geography is irrelevant. Standards are not.
At the PMI, we are committed to leading this work through our qualifications, our standards, and our Industry Administration Working Group.
Over the coming months, the PMI and its partners will continue exploring ways to build stronger links with this vital community, including ensuring better access to qualifications. As part of this, I encourage UK employers who are, or plan to, outsource functions to India to speak to us about how the PMI can help.
If we fail to invest in the professional identity and capability of global pensions teams, we risk creating a two-tier profession. If we invest well, we strengthen the entire system.
Varsha Gicas is chief customer officer at the Pensions Management Institute.
