Breaking down barriers: making communications inclusive
We’re now up to episode six of our ‘Shaping Tomorrow’ podcast, with this month’s released during National Inclusion Week. Tune in as host Clare Routledge quizzes our expert panel on financial inclusion, communications around financial information, how they’re received by members and what we can do to make them better and easier to understand. Joining […]
Thinking about EDI as part of board effectiveness
National inclusion week is a great opportunity for pension managers and trustees to remind themselves that The Pensions Regulator (TPR) expects pension schemes to demonstrate best practice around equality (we prefer the use of equity), diversity and inclusion (EDI). But why is EDI important, and how could a board effectiveness review make sure EDI best […]
How financial inclusion is tied to the workplace and employee benefits
In this article for the Reward & Employee Benefits Association (REBA), Kate Barette highlights the importance of financial literacy when it comes to financial inclusion, how employers can improve financial inclusion in the workplace and why it’s their responsibility to pick this up. You can read the full article on the REBA website here
Shaping Tomorrow: inspiring women
Our latest ‘Shaping Tomorrow’ podcast is ready for download, as we join Client Director/host Clare Routledge for an International Women’s Day themed episode. This month Clare is joined by a number of guests all from Vidett, as we celebrate achievements, share experiences and discuss changes they’d like to see in the future. On the release […]
Predicting pensions in 2025
As 2025 begins in earnest, we’ve been asking some of our experts what they think the year will bring for their service line and the pensions industry as a whole. Here’s their thoughts: Mandy Kaur-Sadler, head of our large schemes service line Q: Is buy-out still the optimal outcome? A: “An emerging trend, particularly notable […]
Ask the industry: How do skills and diversity drive trustee board effectiveness?
At Governance Matters 2024 Client Director Simon Lewis chaired a panel of experts in discussing how having diversity and a range of skills on your trustee board can make it more effective, creating better outcomes for pension scheme members. The context for this was around TPR’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion guidance to trustees and employers […]
National Inclusion Week: 8 actionable tips to strengthen pension board equity, diversity and inclusion
Diverse and inclusive boards are essential for effective decision-making, governance and good member outcomes. However, research from Cardano suggests that pension trustee boards are still overwhelmingly white, male and over age 45. While this doesn’t make diversity—or diversity of thought—impossible, it does make achieving it more challenging. Research from Barnett Waddingham highlights that many pension […]
National Inclusion Week: What inclusion looks like in the workplace
‘Inclusion’ is a word that gets used a lot, especially at work. But what does it really mean, what benefits does it bring and what does an inclusive workplace look like in practice? Straight away, it needs to be said that there’s no ‘one size fits all approach’ to inclusion. What works for one company […]
Lessons for improving board diversity
Client director Simon Lewis has recently written an article for Governance + Compliance, looking at the ongoing challenge of improving board diversity in organisations. In the piece he casts the spotlight on the key barriers companies face and how can companies drive change. To read the article in full, please click here. If you’re looking […]
Have you reviewed equity, diversity & inclusion (EDI) in your pension scheme?
Watch our video explaining why you should review EDI in your pension scheme.
The North London PLSA: Annual Workshop
Two members of the team were on the road: Tuesday 4th June, with Simon Lewis and Helen Beckinsale joining the PLSA’s North London group to run a session on the importance of trustee diversity. The day promised to be a content rich one, with an impressive range of speakers and topics as per below: Further […]
General code series #3 – the governing body: board structure and activities
The ‘governing body’, is a term introduced by the general code (the code) to add to an already broad landscape of roles and responsibilities! The code’s definition is as follows: ‘The governing body is responsible for running a scheme. Governing bodies may be trustees or managers of occupational pension schemes, or, in public service pension […]
Navigating the pension maze: 10 predictions for 2024
As change ripples through the pensions sector, Gillian Graham shines a light on some of the key transformations companies, pension schemes, and trustees could expect in the coming year. With the landscape shifting rapidly, the value of professional trustees will become even more apparent. Appointing experienced professionals to guide your scheme through the uncertainties of […]
Bridging the ethnicity gap in pensions
I’ve worked with a 100 trustee boards — but only three lay trustees that were people of colour. Better representation is needed if the industry is going to address the ethnicity pensions gap. October’s Black History Month served as a timely reminder to reflect on the complex relationship between ethnicity and pensions. While it’s heartening […]
Why diversity is crucial to trustee effectiveness
Our co-chief executive, Naomi L’Estrange will be on the virtual road, as she joins Danny Vassiliades and XPS, for their webinar on the topic of Diversity and Inclusion on Trustee Boards. Taking place on Wednesday 29th November (3pm to 4pm), the panel will be discussing why diversity is important, and how trustee boards can become more inclusive […]
Equity, diversity & inclusion (EDI) Q&A
Sarah Booth is joined by Kelly Newton, Pensions Manager at Samworth Brothers, for a Q&A on all things EDI. In March we ran an EDI training session for the Samworth Brothers trustee board. Watch this video to find out Kelly’s experience of attending the session. Get in touch with Simon Lewis to see how Vidett […]
Simon Lewis welcomes Equality, Diversity and Inclusion guidance
Vidett Client Director Simon Lewis has been taking a closer look at The Pension Regulator’s (TPR) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) guidance. In response to the TPR EDI guidance publication, Simon commented: “The Pensions Regulator and those representing the pensions industry have put together some excellent guidance, that should make all trustees and employers stop […]
Women in pensions
The theme for international women’s day is ‘Embrace Equity.’ Equity is recognising that we do not all share the same starting positions, so the resources required to achieve the same outcomes also differ. For international women’s day, I’ve gathered insight from female colleagues at various stages in their careers. Women have taken on diverse roles […]
Why we need more young trustees and how to make this happen
I recently watched my colleague Simon Lewis’ trustee diversity and inclusion (D&I) podcast with Hymans Robertson (part of their popular PITStop series). It got me thinking about age diversity, how the pension industry can attract younger pension trustees and whether trustee perceptions need to change. While anyone over 18 can become a trustee, it’s usually a role […]