The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has called on employers, trustees and business leaders in the north of England to play a leading role in addressing the challenges facing pension savers.

The call came as the PMI opened its Northern Conference in Leeds, bringing together trustees, employers, advisers and policymakers from across the region.

The institute said the event comes during a “critical decade for pensions”, with speakers set to examine the future of the UK pensions system and the pressures facing schemes and savers in the north.

PMI former president and long-standing member, Robert Wakefield, told delegates that the north’s employers and pension professionals have a “unique opportunity” to shape better outcomes for local savers.

“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," he said.

“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 progress 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 at the conference, including representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions and The Pensions Regulator, are expected to address issues including pension fraud risks, regulatory reform, and the evolving defined benefit and defined contribution pension landscape.

The PMI is urging northern organisations to engage with these developments and ensure their schemes are prepared for future challenges.

It called on employers, trustees and business leaders in the region to strengthen collaboration, support new trustees entering the profession, prioritise robust governance and fraud prevention, engage with upcoming regulatory consultations and reforms, and ensure members receive clear guidance as they approach retirement.

PMI North East Regional Group chair, James Webster, added: “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.”

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