One of the UK’s largest Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds has formally joined the Pensions Management Institute’s (PMI) Development Partnership programme, signalling a continued push to strengthen professional standards as regulatory expectations rise.
West Midlands Pension Fund, which manages £21bn on behalf of more than 360,000 members, has become the latest organisation to sign up to the initiative, which supports structured learning pathways, qualifications and continuing professional development across pensions administration, governance and investment functions.
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of governance, trustee capability and administration standards, with the Department for Work and Pensions consulting on tougher expectations and the Pensions Regulator increasing its oversight focus.
Varsha Gicas, chief customer officer at the PMI, said: “West Midlands’ scale, ambition, and longstanding commitment to high-quality governance make them an important voice within the LGPS community. As regulatory expectations continue to evolve, the need for robust professional standards has never been greater.”
Amy Regler, deputy director of pension operations at West Midlands Pension Fund, said: “This partnership with the Pensions Management Institute marks an important step for West Midlands Pension Fund. We have invested in professional development for many years, and formalising our relationship through the Development Partnership reinforces our commitment to technical excellence, strong governance and building capability across our teams.
“It also strengthens the pathway for new talent entering the pensions industry, helping to ensure we continue to deliver high standards for our members and employers.”
West Midlands joins Barnett Waddingham, Aptia, Equiniti, and the Local Government Association as PMI development partners, underlining a broader industry shift towards embedding professionalisation at an organisational level rather than relying on fragmented individual training.
