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Pensions UK urges government to set timetable for higher AE contributions


By Callum Conway

The government should set out a clear timetable for increasing minimum automatic enrolment (AE) pension contributions, after new research revealed widespread concern about retirement undersaving alongside employer support for phased increases, according to Pensions UK.

Research carried out by Yonder Consulting for Pensions UK found that 57 per cent of working-age adults were not confident they were saving enough to maintain their standard of living in retirement, while 82 per cent viewed undersaving as a significant issue in the UK


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Infrastructure allocations set to rise as investors seek resilience and long-term growth

Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of institutional investors, including pension funds, plan to increase allocations to infrastructure equity over the next three to five years, according to research from IFM Investors

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Industry calls on HMRC to clarify NMPA transition amid unauthorised payment risk

Pensions industry bodies have called on HMRC to provide greater clarity and extend transitional protections ahead of the increase in the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) from 55 to 57, warning that some payments made after 6 April 2028 could otherwise be treated as unauthorised

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Pensions social contract 'under strain’ as nearly a third face inadequate retirement income

The UK’s pensions “social contract is under strain”, with nearly a third (31 per cent) of working-age adults at risk of falling below the minimum retirement living standard, according to research from the Fabian Society

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More than a third doubt their pension will provide a comfortable retirement

More than a third (36 per cent) of people do not believe their pension will provide a comfortable retirement, while growing numbers are unsure whether their savings are on track, according to Trafalgar House’s 2026 Trust & Confidence Survey

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Aviva Master Trust passes £20bn AUM

The Aviva Master Trust has passed £20bn in assets under management (AUM), with the scheme now serving more than 650 employers offering a defined contribution (DC) pension and over 650,000 members

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Surge in pension withdrawals amid policy uncertainty ‘very worrying’

The pensions industry has voiced its concerns over the surge in pension withdrawals revealed in the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) latest Retirement Income Market Data analysis

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Upcoming fiduciary duty guidance must give trustees confidence in decision-making

The government’s forthcoming updated guidance on fiduciary duty should enable trustees to make the best decisions for their scheme and members, not the decision that’s least challengeable, according to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Technical Working Group chair, Sir Robin Knowles
Investing in AI over people risks pensions skills gap - PMI

Investment in the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) could create a skills gap unless it is matched by investment in the expertise of the professionals using it, Pensions Management Institute (PMI) chief strategy officer, Helen Forrest Hall, has warned
Almost one in five people over state pension age still working

Nearly one in five (19 per cent) people aged 66 and over are still working, compared to 12 per cent in 2023, according to research by Interactive Investor
News in brief – 25 September 2026

The latest news in brief and mandates from the past seven days

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Total value withdrawn from pension pots surges by over 20% in 2025/26

The total value of withdrawals from pension pots increased by 21.7 per cent to £91.2bn in the year ending 31 March 2026, with annuity purchases and those entering drawdown both rising, data from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed.

Its Retirement Income Market Data 2025/26 showed the value withdrawn from pensions rose from £75bn in 2024/25, and from £53.6bn in 2023/24, representing a 70 per cent increase over two years
Workers more than twice as likely to check savings than pensions

Workers in the UK are more than twice as likely to check their savings balance during a week than they are to look at their pension, research from the Pension Attention campaign has shown


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One year after the launch of the Governance for Growth Investor Campaign (GGIC), its chair, Caroline Escott, speaks to Callum Conway about investor rights, dual-class shares, corporate reporting reform and why weakening governance standards will not revive the UK’s IPO market

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Recent government and regulatory announcements will enable the creation of new whole-of-life collective defined contribution (CDC) schemes. With regulatory backing for retirement CDC also imminent, David Adams looks at the practical challenges facing schemes and providers seeking to turn the theoretical promise of CDC into reality

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Pensions Age sits down with Paul Black, professional trustee at Pi Partnership, and chair of the Dr. Martens Airwair Group Pension Plan, to discuss the scheme’s buy-in with PIC trustees, along with Matt Richards, PIC’s representative on the transaction, and Nikhil Patel, representative of the scheme’s risk transfer consultant, Howden (Barnett Waddingham)

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Laura Blows discusses retirement saving levels in the UK, and the support required for members, trustees and employers, with WEALTH at Work director, Jonathan Watts-Lay

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In the latest Pensions Age podcast, Francesca Fabrizi speaks to Capita Pension Solutions global practice leader & chief revenue officer, Stuart Heatley, about who matters most in pensions and how to best meet their needs

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