Morning, Tuesday, 23rd June 2026
Online
This conference will assess next steps for UK pensions services policy, regulation and market development - focusing on practical implications of current reform for schemes, employers, providers, advisers, regulators and savers.
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss implementation of the Pension Schemes Act 2026 and the direction of market consolidation and investment policy. Wider questions will also be considered, around the adequacy of retirement incomes, levels of participation in pension saving, governance standards, consumer support, and priorities for innovation in provision and delivery.
The discussion takes place as the Government-established independent Pensions Commission examines adequacy, coverage and fairness in the system - including the extent to which current contribution levels and participation patterns are sufficient to support long-term retirement outcomes. It also comes as the Third State Pension age review considers future pension age arrangements, and with the Pension Schemes Act recently receiving royal assent.
Delegates will discuss implications of these developments for scheme design, regulatory expectations and delivery, as well as the balance between operational requirements, member interests and wider economic policy objectives.
Pension Schemes Act implementation, delivery & system readiness
The agenda will examine proposed reform intended to make pensions easier to manage and understand. This includes the move towards greater consolidation of schemes, approaches to addressing the build-up of small pots, the introduction of value for money requirements, and changes affecting investment strategy and oversight. Delegates will consider implementation timelines, sequencing and transition issues for schemes moving to greater scale, and how these reforms relate to existing Defined Benefit funding rules, Defined Contribution governance requirements and preparations for pensions dashboards.
Further discussion will focus on how gaps in operational readiness across the system might be addressed. Approaches to support for trustee capability and practical requirements for employer compliance will be assessed, alongside issues around data quality and standards, and preparedness for connection to pensions dashboards. The agenda will also examine implications of 2025 Autumn Budget changes for pension saving behaviour and scheme design, including the proposed cap on National Insurance relief through salary sacrifice arrangements and how this may affect employer provision and contribution patterns.
Regulatory oversight, governance & consumer support
Sessions will consider priorities for pension regulation, scheme governance and market oversight as expectations continue to evolve around transparency, comparability, data and accountability.
Attendees will consider implications of the Financial Conduct Authority and The Pensions Regulator’s Value for Money Framework: Response to consultation, including requirements for benchmarking, reporting and oversight, and what these may mean in practice for trustees, providers and those responsible for scheme governance.
Practical rollout of the FCA’s targeted support framework will also be discussed, alongside the boundary between guidance and advice, consumer protection considerations, and integration with pensions dashboards and digital tools. Further discussion will consider TPR’s evolving approach to trustee standards and governance, including capability, reporting expectations and the wider question of how consumer support can be strengthened without creating unnecessary complexity or weakening accountability.
Investment in UK assets, consolidation & market development
Further sessions will consider the role of pension funds in supporting economic growth, including the policy direction set out in the Chancellor’s Mansion House reforms and broader considerations around investment in UK assets and market consolidation. Delegates will assess implications for the Local Government Pension Scheme and private schemes, including effects on scale - with larger pooled funds and the move towards megafunds - and implications for competition between providers, governance arrangements and trustee oversight, investment capability and access to a wider range of assets, and ultimately member outcomes.
The agenda will also examine concerns raised by some stakeholders about the use of reserve powers in relation to investment in UK private markets, and about the balance between fiduciary duties and wider policy objectives. Discussion will focus on safeguards, compliance planning, and options for approaching consolidation and investment reform in a way that supports long-term saver interests while addressing pressures for stronger domestic investment.
Long-term pension system sustainability
In the context of the Pensions Commission’s work and the Third State Pension age review, the conference will also consider longer-term questions around adequacy, coverage and sustainability in the pensions system.
Delegates will discuss contribution levels, gaps in participation, options for auto-enrolment reform, and what different approaches to state pension age and retirement income policy could mean in practice for individuals, employers, providers and public finances.
Innovation, digital delivery & member engagement
Attendees will also consider priorities for supporting innovation in pension provision, including digital pension planning, dashboards integration, the use of AI and wider rollout of Collective Defined Contribution schemes. This will include practical approaches to digital pension planning, integration with dashboards, and data-driven tools to improve engagement and outcomes in a way that is workable for schemes and trusted by consumers.
Discussion will examine cyber resilience, data governance, interoperability and personalised support, alongside approaches to improving engagement and decision-making through digital and data-driven tools.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from HM Treasury; House of Commons Library; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
