Calls for Northern business leaders to protect savers as pensions conference opens in Leeds
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) today opened its Northern Conference in Leeds with a clear message for the North’s pensions and business community: the region must play a leading role in tackling the challenges facing savers.
In what the Institute describes as a “critical decade for pensions”, the event brings together trustees, employers, advisers, and policymakers from across the North to examine the future of the UK pensions system and the pressures facing schemes and savers in the North.
Former PMI President and long-standing PMI member Robert Wakefield told delegates that the North’s employers and pension professionals have a “unique opportunity” to shape better outcomes for local savers.
Robert Wakefield said:
“As the PMI meets today in Leeds, it’s clear that the North has a vital role to play in securing the future of pensions. The decisions we make now on governance, investment, and member support will shape retirement outcomes for thousands of people across our region.
“This is a moment that demands genuine collaboration. Only by working together – employers, trustees, regulators and advisers – can we ensure that savers in the North do not face hardship in later life.”
Wakefield highlighted the progress made across the industry, including improvements in professional standards and trustee capability, but warned that significant work remains to ensure savers receive the guidance and protection they need.
Speakers throughout the day, including representatives from the DWP and The Pensions Regulator, will address key issues including pension fraud risks, regulatory reform, and the evolving landscape of defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes.
The PMI is urging Northern organisations to engage actively with these developments and ensure their schemes are prepared for the challenges ahead.
The Institute’s North East and West regional groups, led by their respective chairs, continue to support this agenda through local events, networking, professional development and knowledge-sharing across the pensions community.
Call to action for the North
The PMI is calling today on Northern employers, trustees and business leaders to:
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Strengthen collaboration across the region to improve saver outcomes
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Support new trustees entering the profession
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Prioritise robust governance and fraud prevention
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Engage with upcoming regulatory consultations and reforms
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Ensure members receive clear guidance as they approach retirement
James Webster, Chair of the PMI’s North East Regional Group, said:
“The North’s pensions community is strong, experienced and capable. If we act together, we can deliver a system that is sustainable, fair and fit for the future. Today’s conference is a reminder that our region can and must lead the way.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
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The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) is the UK’s leading professional body for those working in pensions and retirement savings. With over 10,000 members, the PMI represents the broadest range of pensions professionals and trustees in the country.
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Its members are responsible for managing and advising some of the world’s largest pension schemes, making key decisions on substantial financial matters. With more than £1 trillion invested in UK pensions, PMI members play a vital role in shaping the nation’s financial future. With five decades of experience, PMI remains at the forefront of pensions education and thought leadership.
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The PMI’s regional groups help members stay connected locally and offer CPD opportunities, student support, regional exam-centre links, social activity and networking. The North East Regional Group is chaired by James Webster and the North West Regional Group is chaired by Anne Lynch.
Press contact:
For media enquiries, please contact Matt Adams, Head of Media and PR at pressoffice@pensions-pmi.org.uk