L&G has launched a cash savings platform for defined contribution (DC) members through Raisin UK.

The platform, available via L&G’s app and website, will provide eligible members with access to more than 250 Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)-protected savings products from over 40 UK-registered banks, allowing them to compare options and benefit from competitive rates before completing the process through Raisin UK. L&G said the initiative responded to consumer demand for simpler access to competitive savings products, with its research showing that 22 per cent of retirees have taken, or would consider taking, a cash lump sum from their pension to place into a current account or cash ISA for ‘rainy day’ savings, while 80 per cent of DC members said they would value a dedicated cash savings platform to help them compare providers. The partnership forms part of L&G’s broader push to support members’ financial wellbeing and improve long-term retirement outcomes, with plans to extend the platform to retail savings and annuity customers later this year. L&G CEO of DC and workplace savings, Paula Llewellyn, claimed that the collaboration would help remove barriers to saving and improve confidence in financial decision-making, while Raisin UK CEO, Steven Amos, added that the partnership would make it easier for customers to compare savings options and access more competitive rates.

LGPS Central has announced a co-investment in Birmingham-based field service management software provider Joblogic alongside global technology investor Vista Equity Partners.

The cloud-based platform connects contractors and building owners in real time and supports more than 100,000 users across 7,000 customers in field-based industries, helping organisations manage workflows, improve operational visibility and maintain critical building assets. LGPS Central said the investment aligned with its private equity strategy of supporting scalable, technology-enabled businesses with strong growth potential, while also contributing to local economic development within its regional footprint. The deal forms part of the pool’s co-investment programme, which enables it to invest alongside specialist partners such as Vista, whose operational expertise in scaling enterprise software businesses was a key factor in the decision. LGPS Central head of private markets, Nadeem Hussain, said the investment demonstrates the pool’s ability to deploy capital alongside leading partners while supporting businesses that contribute to regional economic growth, while LGPS Central investment director of private equity, Jaswant Sidhu, argued that Joblogic represented a scalable technology business operating in a resilient market with strong fundamentals and clear potential for continued expansion. Vista Equity Partners co-head of the Foundation Fund and senior managing director, Martin Taylor, added that Joblogic’s platform was embedded in customers’ daily operations and the partnership would support its next phase of growth as field service industries continued to digitalise.

Alltrust has launched a sophisticated investor self-invested personal pension (SIPP) for high-net-worth clients.

The SIPP will offer expanded access to private markets, bespoke assets and a wider range of investment opportunities. It builds on Alltrust’s existing SIPP proposition and will require a minimum initial fund of £100,000 through contributions or transfers, with no requirement for regular ongoing contributions. Members will retain full control over investment decisions, typically working with a regulated financial adviser, and can invest across a broad range of permitted assets, including listed equities, funds, commercial property, AIM securities, gold bullion, REITs and secured lending. Those assessed as knowledgeable investors can also access more complex assets such as hedge funds, contracts for difference, property syndicates and unquoted UK equities. The product also enables multiple sophisticated investor SIPPs to co-invest in shared assets, such as commercial property, through a syndicate capability that allows investors to pool pension capital. Alltrust managing director, James Floyd, said the launch responded to demand from advisers whose clients wanted to use pensions as a strategic investment vehicle while maintaining access to a broad set of asset classes, adding that the offering combined investment freedom with governance oversight, transparent fees and the tax efficiency associated with SIPPs.

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