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Pensions UK Investment Conference coverage
Pensions UK: Mandation, markets and the future of pensions
Pensions UK’s new defined contribution policy chief Phil Brown looks back at the trade body’s investment conference earlier this month and the key themes and talking points that emerged.
Volatility, value, and venture: Top stories from the Pensions UK Investment Conference
Pensions Expert picks the top stories from a busy week, from the pensions minister’s latest update on mandation, to how the biggest schemes are tackling volatility and uncertainty.
Always A Pensions Angle: Live From Edinburgh!
In this special edition of the Always a Pensions Angle podcast, Nick and Tom give us the lowdown on all the biggest stories to come out of the recent Pensions UK Investment Conference in Edinburgh.
Why Nest is embracing deliberative democracy
The UK’s largest master trust is exploring innovative ways in which to achieve better member representation within its governance structure.
Lay trustees remain important as sector consolidates, government says
An external voice is needed “to ask the difficult questions that sometimes professionals either don’t want to hear or don’t quite understand”, says Des Healy of the DWP at a conference in Edinburgh.
Government bodies advocate ‘significant’ opportunity in venture capital
Senior representatives from the Office for Investment, the British Business Bank, and the National Wealth Fund sought to flesh out the investment narrative and explain why pension funds should be confident about investing in UK private markets.
Is ESG investing in the best interests of pension scheme members? [Updated]
Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas and ex-cabinet minister Michael Gove debated climate change investing and fiduciary duty in a session at the Pensions UK Investment Conference.
To insource or to outsource? That is the question
Three of the UK’s largest pension investors take different approaches to the balance of insourcing and outsourcing investment expertise and capabilities, as Louise Farrand reports.
‘Mess with fiduciary duty at your peril’: USS chief welcomes government approach
The government is taking the right approach to fiduciary duty in planning guidance rather than legislating, according to the chief executive of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
Bell defends salary sacrifice cap and rejects incentive concerns
“The wider changes on salary sacrifice are happening because you should want a government that keeps tax reliefs under review,” pensions minister Torsten Bell said.
Government to limit scope of mandation clause, pensions minister says
Torsten Bell says the Pension Schemes Bill will be amended to ensure that the mandation clause only relates to the Mansion House Accord and cannot be used for other purposes.
Amber alert: Industry weighs risks of Value for Money ratings
Amber ratings being introduced through the Value for Money framework should encourage dialogue and reform, not knee-jerk reactions, regulators say.
How the UK’s largest pension schemes have navigated recent volatility
Investment bosses from Border to Coast, People’s Pension and Railpen outline how their governance structures have helped them navigate market turbulence in recent months
Other news from Pensions Expert
DB running costs up by a third – and size is no protection, data shows
Data from TPT Retirement Solutions shows legal, admin, governance, and data-related fees are among the drivers of year-on-year increases – and size is no protection against rising costs.
Clara-Pensions onboards £40m scheme through small transactions service
More than 400 members of the unnamed scheme will join the Clara Pension Trust, which aims to be a ‘bridge to buyout’ with an insurer.
Canada Life wraps up food company scheme through £400m buy-in
The transaction secures the benefits of more than 7,000 members of the Samworth Brothers Limited Superannuation Scheme, sponsored by the owner of the Ginsters and West Cornwall Pasty Company brands.
L&G strikes biggest bulk annuity deal of 2026 with £1.7bn buy-in
The buy-in secures the benefits of 16,400 members, and the trustee board highlighted the importance of continued strong customer service as a key factor in selecting L&G.
Trustees must be in control of surplus decisions, trade bodies argue
Organisations representing member-nominated and professional trustees have emphasised the importance of independence during surplus decisions for defined benefit pension schemes.
Schemes keeping surplus release options open as rulebook debated, Aon finds
More than three-quarters of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes’ trustee boards and sponsoring employers have yet to agree on how surplus will be shared once the new rules come into force next year.
DB surplus release rules need refinement, industry tells government
With the government’s consultation on draft rules closing next week, providers and trade bodies have been forthright in their views on the plans, with many changes urged to ensure fairness and mitigate conflicts of interest.
Scale test could ‘paralyse’ industry and hamper innovation, government warned
“Waiting until late 2027 for draft regulations leaves the industry in limbo, threatening to stall vital investment and stifle innovation at a time when providers should be preparing for 2030,” says the SPP’s Chris Austin.
How is AI being used across pension schemes’ supply chains?
Pension schemes need a clearer picture of where artificial intelligence is being used across their operations and supply chains as adoption accelerates, according to technology firm Penfold.
Unions take Civil Service pension insourcing campaign to Downing Street
The Prospect and Public and Commercial Services unions are petitioning the government to name a responsible minister and bring the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme in-house.