On the go: The government-backed master trust Nest plans to allocate 5 per cent of its total assets to private equity, which is estimated to be worth £1.5bn by the end of 2024.

On the go: The government-backed master trust Nest has hired a company to provide strategic investment research services.

On the go: Norfolk County Council has extended the duration of its passive investment management services framework and transition management and implementation services framework for an additional year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to notices on the Official Journal of the EU.

On the go: The £2.9bn Pearl Group Staff Pension Scheme, one of Phoenix Group’s main pension schemes, has completed a second £998m buy-in with the group’s life assurance company, Phoenix Life.

On the go: The NFU Mutual Retirement Benefit Scheme, with £1.1bn in defined benefit assets and £206.2m in defined contribution assets, has appointed Trafalgar House to provide administration services, effective from July 1 2021.

On the go: The Signet Group Pension Scheme has completed a £236m full buy-in with Rothesay. Mercer was the lead broker on the transaction.

On the go: The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has appointed an actuarial adviser for its two legacy defined benefit schemes, the circa £25.4m Home-Grown Cereals Authority Pension Plan and the circa £203.2m Meat and Livestock Commission Pension Scheme.

On the go: The NatWest Group Pension Fund has entered into a joint venture partnership with Legal & General to invest £500m in net-zero-carbon ‘later-living’ housing.

On the go: The £1.7bn Thames Water Pension Scheme and the £770.9m Thames Water Mirror Image Pension Scheme have appointed Redington as their new investment adviser.

On the go: RPMI Railpen, the Railways Pension Scheme investment manager, has launched an internal trading desk to further enhance its in-house capabilities.