Retirement saving Archives - People's Partnership

Two thirds of SMEs say they are unable to meet growing responsibility for employee retirement outcomes

More than half (51%) of UK SMEs believe retirement outcomes are primarily the responsibility of employers, but the vast majority (68%) believe they lack the expertise and resources to support their workers
Seven in ten (70%) SME employers say businesses are increasingly expected to help employees achieve better retirement outcomes
More than two-thirds (67%) believe employers are expected to support retirement confidence and decision-making, as well as broader financial wellbeing

SME employers feel increasingly responsible for helping employees achieve better retirement outcomes, but the majority say they don’t have the support available to help them meet those expectations, according to new research¹ from People’s Pension².

While more than half (51%) of SMEs now believe retirement outcomes are primarily the responsibility of employers, many feel those expectations are growing faster than the support available to them. More than two thirds (68%) believe they lack the expertise or resources to offer this wider financial wellbeing support.

Seven in ten (70%) employers say there is a growing expectation on businesses to help employees achieve better retirement outcomes, while 67% believe employers are increasingly expected to support retirement confidence and decision-making. A similar proportion (67%) say employers are also being drawn into broader financial wellbeing responsibilities beyond pensions.

The findings suggest employers increasingly see supporting employees’ long-term financial wellbeing as part of their role, while underlining the importance of providers and advisers helping them meet these wider expectations.

The research comes as the Pension Schemes Act 2026 introduces the next phase of workplace pension reform, including a new Value for Money framework and requirements for schemes to offer clear default retirement income options. As the industry places greater emphasis on the outcomes members achieve, effective collaboration between employers, providers and advisers will become increasingly important.

Stuart Reid, Distribution Director for People’s Pension, said:

“It’s encouraging that so many employers recognise the role they can play in helping their employees retire well and with confidence. But many also feel they’re being asked to do more without necessarily having the expertise or resources to do it, and that’s where providers need to step up – with better products, simpler member journeys, and support that looks beyond just the financial side of retirement.

“The numbers are obviously important, and good tools and guidance can make it much easier for people to understand what they can afford. But there’s much more to a good retirement than working out the maths. People need to think about what they’re actually going to do with their time, what will give them a sense of purpose, and what responsibilities they might still have to others. Employers can help people start thinking about those questions, but they can’t do it all – providers and other specialists have an important role to play too.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Data conducted on behalf of People’s Pension by Opinium Research from 1 July – 8 July 2026 among a nationally representative survey of 200 Independent Financial Advisers.

2. People’s Pension is the largest commercial master trust in the UK based on members, serving seven million pension savers across the UK and managing £45bn in assets. It is provided by People’s Partnership, a business without shareholders, it reinvests its profits with the aim to help customers and achieve better financial outcomes for everyone. This assessment is determined by membership size. People’s Pension currently has more than seven million members, which, according to publicly available industry data, exceeds the membership of any other commercial master trust.

Pensions industry short on time to deliver Value for Money reforms

The provider of People’s Pension has called for Government, regulators and the pensions industry to work together at pace to deliver the new Value for Money (VfM) framework, warning that the sector is short on time to implement reforms which will deliver better outcomes for millions of pension savers.

Responding to the latest consultation on the framework, People’s Partnership, which provides the People’s Pension to 7.2 million people, said getting VfM right will be critical not only to improving outcomes for savers, but also to supporting the Government’s ambitions to unlock greater productive investment from pension schemes. If schemes are to invest more for the long term and play a greater role in supporting UK economic growth, they need clarity over how investment performance and value will be assessed under the new regime.

The organisation, which operates without shareholders, welcomed the Government’s ambition to introduce a consistent way of assessing the value delivered by workplace pensions, but said significant work remains to give schemes the regulatory and technical certainty they need. Without that clarity, schemes will find it harder both to prepare for implementation and to make long-term investment decisions with confidence.

The provider said the revised timetable is achievable, but only if Government and regulators work closely with industry over the coming months. It is calling for regulations and supporting technical requirements to be developed in parallel, alongside a clear roadmap setting out what schemes will need to do and by when. Providing that certainty quickly will be essential if the Government is to deliver both a workable VfM framework and its wider ambitions for pension capital to support productive investment and UK growth.

Patrick Heath-Lay CBE, CEO of People’s Partnership, said:

“The Value for Money framework will bring the change the pensions industry needs and will support delivery of better outcomes for millions of savers – but we don’t have long to ensure it does. There is a lot of work to do to give schemes the clarity they need to build, test, and implement the changes in time. The only viable approach is for government, regulators, and industry to work in genuine partnership and at pace.

“This is vital not only to ensure the VfM framework can get off the ground as intended, but also to realise the Government’s plans around productive investment. If we want pension schemes to play a greater role in driving the UK economy through long-term investment – and we do – they need the confidence to make those investment decisions with a clear understanding of how they will be assessed. Getting that clarity in place quickly will be crucial.”

Notes to Editors:

People’s Pension is the largest commercial master trust in the UK based on members, serving seven million pension savers across the UK and managing £45bn in assets. It is provided by People’s Partnership, a business without shareholders, it reinvests its profits with the aim to help customers and achieve better financial outcomes for everyone. This assessment is determined by membership size. People’s Pension currently has more than seven million members, which, according to publicly available industry data, exceeds the membership of any other commercial master trust.

People’s Pension warns millions of savers could miss out on free targeted pension support

Millions of hardworking workplace pension savers risk missing out on free targeted support with important retirement decisions because of how their pension is regulated, People’s Pension has warned, as it calls on Government to address the gap between contract and trust-based schemes.

People’s Pension has backed the introduction of targeted support as a landmark Government reform that has the potential to close the advice gap between information and regulated financial advice, giving ordinary savers better access to the sort of help they need to make complex pension decisions.

However, the new framework only applies to FCA-regulated contract-based pension providers. Trust-based workplace schemes, including master trusts regulated by The Pensions Regulator (TPR), sit outside the FCA framework, meaning their members cannot access targeted support through their scheme.

People’s Pension warns this could result in people facing very different levels of help when making the same retirement decisions, based not on their individual needs but on the type of pension scheme their employer selected for them.

Targeted support could make a significant difference at key points throughout a saver’s pension journey. This could include giving someone a stronger steer if they are under-saving, helping those approaching retirement understand how they might generate a retirement income, or identifying when someone may be withdrawing at a rate that risks their pension running out.

While trustees may currently be able to provide forms of personalised support akin to targeted support, People’s Pension says the absence of a clear legal and regulatory framework creates additional complexity and risk for trust-based schemes. In practice, this creates a strong compliance and cultural barrier to trustees offering support that could be perceived as advice.

People’s Pension is calling on Government to introduce a TPR-supervised targeted support framework for qualifying occupational pension schemes, allowing trust-based pension savers to access equivalent support and protections to those available through FCA-regulated schemes, while recognising trustees’ different legal and fiduciary responsibilities.

David Meliveo, Chief Commercial Officer for People’s Pension, said:

“Targeted support is a fantastic opportunity to help millions of people with their pensions who are never likely to have a traditional financial adviser.

“We cannot end up with a two-tier system where the vast majority workplace pension savers miss out on targeted support simply because their employer chose a Master Trust rather than a Group Personal Pension. People do not think about whether their pension is FCA or TPR regulated when deciding whether they are saving enough, how to generate a retirement income or how to make their money last through their later life. They just want straightforward help to make a better decision.

“We want to be able to offer People’s Pension members the same kind of targeted support that contract-based providers are now developing. Government has an opportunity to create a level playing field that allows trust-based schemes to do that safely, so the type of pension someone’s employer chose does not dictate the quality of help they get.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

People’s Pension is the largest commercial master trust in the UK based on members, serving seven million pension savers across the UK and managing more than £45bn in assets. It is provided by People’s Partnership, a business without shareholders, it reinvests its profits with the aim to help customers and achieve better financial outcomes for everyone. This assessment is determined by membership size. People’s Pension currently has more than seven million members, which, according to publicly available industry data, exceeds the membership of any other commercial master trust.

Retirement support emerging as a key differentiator in workplace pensions, advisers say

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of advisers believe workplace pension providers still look too similar
Almost half (48%) say retirement support is becoming the key differentiator between providers
Almost six in 10 (58%) believe member outcomes and support now matter more than cost alone
More than a third (35%) expect retirement income solutions to become one of the biggest differentiators over the next five years
The findings suggest providers have an opportunity to stand out by supporting members throughout their savings journey and into retirement

Workplace pension providers can no longer rely on cost alone to stand out, as employers and advisers increasingly place greater value on retirement support when assessing providers, according to new research¹ from People’s Pension².

Nearly two thirds (64%) of independent financial advisers believe workplace pension providers still look too similar, suggesting there remains considerable scope for providers to differentiate themselves. Almost half (48%) believe retirement support is becoming the key differentiator between providers, while more than a third (35%) expect retirement income solutions to be among the biggest areas of differentiation over the next five years.

Cost remains an important consideration, with 59% agreeing it is still a defining factor when businesses engage with workplace pension providers. However, as the industry increasingly focuses on Value for Money, advisers appear to be taking a broader view of what constitutes value. Almost six in ten (58%) believe member outcomes and support matter just as much as cost, suggesting providers will increasingly be judged not just on charges but on the overall value they deliver throughout a member’s savings journey and into retirement.

Advisers also expect the retirement experience providers offer members to become an increasingly important differentiator. Alongside retirement income solutions (35%), almost a quarter identified digital engagement and AI-enabled support (24%), guided retirement pathways and guidance (23%) and greater personalisation (23%) as features that will increasingly set workplace pension providers apart.

The findings also highlight why advisers believe retirement support is becoming increasingly important. More than half (54%) say workplace pensions struggle to generate meaningful engagement because most employees disengage from their pension until later life, while 45% point to employees prioritising immediate financial needs over longer-term retirement planning.

When employees do begin thinking about retirement, advisers believe many would benefit from greater support. Nearly four in ten (39%) say most employees do not engage with retirement until it is very close, while almost a quarter (24%) believe employees underestimate how complex retirement decisions can be.

The findings suggest advisers increasingly expect workplace pension providers to demonstrate how they can support members throughout their savings journey and into retirement. As the market continues to evolve, retirement support is emerging as an increasingly important part of the overall workplace pension proposition.

Stuart Reid, Distribution Director for People’s Pension, said:

“Supporting people at retirement is a very different challenge to helping them save. Automatic enrolment has brought millions of people into pension saving through a relatively simple framework, while retirement is much more individual. Members arrive with different pot sizes, circumstances, priorities and expectations of what retirement will look like.

“That diversity is one of the reasons retirement has been a much tougher challenge for the industry to crack. There isn’t a single journey that will work for everyone, particularly for providers serving millions of members from across the UK.

“Scale also gives providers an opportunity. As more members reach retirement, we’re building a much richer understanding of the choices people make, where they need support and how those needs differ across our membership. That experience can help us develop retirement propositions that better reflect how people actually want to use their pension savings.

“That’s why retirement support is becoming such an important differentiator. The providers that stand out will be those that can use what they learn from their members to give people the right support, at the right time, whatever their circumstances.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Data conducted on behalf of People’s Pension by Opinium Research from 1 July – 8 July 2026 among a nationally representative survey of 200 Independent Financial Advisers.

2. People’s Pension is the largest commercial master trust in the UK based on members, serving seven million pension savers across the UK and managing more than £40bn in assets. It is provided by People’s Partnership, a business without shareholders, it reinvests its profits with the aim to help customers and achieve better financial outcomes for everyone. This assessment is determined by membership size. People’s Pension currently has more than seven million members, which, according to publicly available industry data, exceeds the membership of any other commercial master trust.

People’s Pension responds to Pensions Commission consultation

Patrick Heath-Lay, CBE, Chief Executive Officer for People’s Pension¹, said: “The Commission is right to recognise that the UK’s main pensions challenge is improving the adequacy and fairness of the pensions system in the context of an ageing society. This is fundamentally different to the challenge faced by the first Pensions Commission. The challenge now is to improve retirement outcomes while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the pensions system as demographic change places increasing pressure on public finances.

“Of these three priorities sustainability must be tackled first as it bridges pensions policy and public spending, creating the strongest foundation for reform. As the issue of pensions savings inadequacy gathers pace, the challenge will be to improve outcomes from the UK’s pensions system while managing the increasing fiscal pressures associated with both pensions and healthcare.

“Our view is that preserving a universal flat-rate State Pension that retains its value over the long term should remain a cornerstone of the UK’s pensions system, complemented by higher levels of private saving to better insulate future retirees from the fiscal pressures that are likely to emerge over the coming decades. Alongside this, the Commission has an opportunity to provide greater clarity on what pension adequacy looks like and to set a clear long-term direction for how it can be achieved. That should include strengthening automatic enrolment over time, bringing younger and self-employed workers into pensions saving earlier and ensuring savers are better supported to convert their pension pots into sustainable retirement income. We also believe that ordinary savers should benefit from the same protections and standards regardless of whether the pension scheme is workplace or retail.

“The second Pensions Commission has started an important conversation about how the UK responds to the issue of pensions savings inadequacy. We look forward to contributing to that debate as the Commission develops its final recommendations and helps shape a pensions system that delivers better, fairer and more sustainable outcomes for millions of hardworking people across the UK.”

Notes to editor:

People’s Pension is the largest commercial master trust in the UK based on members, serving more than seven million pension savers across the UK and managing £40bn in assets. It is provided by People’s Partnership, a business without shareholders, it reinvests its profits with the aim to help customers and achieve better financial outcomes for everyone.This assessment is determined by membership size. People’s Pension currently has more than seven million members, which, according to publicly available industry data, exceeds the membership of any other commercial master trust.

Personalised video statements drive strong member engagement for People’s Pension, with nine in ten members remaining fully engaged[1]

People’s Pension², the UK’s largest commercial master trust, has reached another milestone in its commitment to delivering more engaging, tailored experiences to its seven million members, through the development of its personalised video statements³.

The refreshed and rebranded video statements have now been rolled out to approximately 95% of active members⁴ and is already delivering high levels of interaction from its members, alongside consistently positive member feedback¹.

The video statements are designed to complement annual regulatory statements by presenting key pension information in a more accessible and engaging format. Each video combines personalised audio and on-screen text, using data such as a member’s name, pension value, investment profile and future projections. Key features include a refreshed visual design, clear projection of potential pot size and retirement income, and simple insights such as Savings Reward⁵information.

People’s Pension Chief Commercial Officer, David Meliveo, said:

“I’m incredibly excited to share the new-look personalised video statements, now fully aligned with our refreshed brand. With a fresh design and enhanced user experience, this marks a significant step forward in how we engage with members and reflects our ongoing focus on innovation, greater personalisation and ultimately, delivering better retirement outcomes.

“Evidence shows that regular, simple interactions help build members’ confidence in their finances, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The initiative is already helping to deepen engagement, improve outcomes and strengthen our proposition for employers and advisers, with ongoing member insight continuing to shape and refine our approach.”

Nigel Rodgers, Chief Information Officer, for People’s Pension added:

“It’s an incredibly exciting time at People’s Pension, with huge potential for technology to transform how we communicate with our members – helping us deliver a more sophisticated, seamless and intuitive experience.

“Our personalised video statements have been designed and built with scalability, security and efficiency at their core, incorporating a range of innovative enhancements. Collectively, these innovations are redefining how members interact with and understand their retirement savings.”

People’s Pension plans to extend access further by launching personalised video statements within its member app⁶ later this summer, making it even easier for members to view and engage with their pension.

Notes to Editor:

1. People’s Pension has seen excellent levels of interaction from its members, including three times more email clicks, more than nine in ten members watching their video to completion, and two-thirds of members taking positive follow-up actions such as downloading the People’s Pension app or accessing further information. The initiative has also achieved an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

2. People’s Pension is the largest commercial master trust in the UK based on members, serving more than seven million pension savers across the UK and managing £40bn in assets. It is provided by People’s Partnership, a business without shareholders, it reinvests its profits with the aim to help customers and achieve better financial outcomes for everyone.

This assessment is determined by membership size. People’s Pension currently has more than seven million members, which, according to publicly available industry data, exceeds the membership of any other commercial master trust.

3. Video explainer

4. Personalised video statements – available within the member portal – are available to approximately 95% of active People’s Pension members, except for members who have a pension pot under £50 or those who are already in retirement.

5. People’s Pension gives £100 million back to its members through its savings reward – People’s Partnership

6. App – People’s Pension

The new NERDs – The Never Ever Retiring Demographic

2.2 million young adults – one in eight (12%) – feel engaging with their pension is pointless because they don’t think they’ll ever be able to retire
A third (36%) of young people say the financial services industry fails to communicate the benefits of saving for retirement well
Of these, one in five (20%) say financial services companies make pensions feel boring and irrelevant
As a result of the industry failing to connect with them, nearly half (47%) of Gen Zs admit they are not engaged with their pension
Clear, practical, and upbeat pension messages were found to outperform scare tactics often used by financial services companies
People’s Pension says it’s time to change the conversation: ditch the doom and jargon, and focus on positive practical steps that make a big difference

A new generation of Nerds – The Never Ever Retiring Demographic – is emerging across the UK, with 2.2 million young adults or one in eight (12%) saying it feels pointless engaging with their pension as they’ll never be able to retire.

New research¹ from People’s Pension², the UK’s largest workplace pension provider of its kind, reveals that almost half (47%) of young adults (Gen Z aged 18-27) are not engaged with their pension. And, despite having time on their side, one in eight (12%) have already switched off altogether from saving for retirement as they believe they’ll have to work forever.

A call to change the conversation

The research highlights a worrying disconnect between the financial services industry and the next generation of savers with a third (36%) of young people saying the financial services sector fails to communicate the benefits of saving for retirement well.

Of these people, one in four (27%) believe firms focus too much on selling products rather than educating people while one in five (16%) say they use complicated language/jargon. And one in five (20%) go further, saying financial companies make pensions feel boring and irrelevant.

In stark difference to older generations, nearly one in three (29%) Gen Zs feel firms don’t explain why pensions and savings matter for people their age – more than double that of their parents’ generation, Gen X and Boomers (13%). Meanwhile, four times as many Gen Zs believe firms don’t use channels they actually engage with – 17% versus 4%.

What actually works

The study tested different pension messages with younger audiences, which found that clear, practical, and upbeat messages far outperformed scare tactics:

70% said they’d act if told that starting to save in their 20s could double their retirement pot compared with starting in their 30s
66% said they’d act on the idea that £10 a week from age 25 could grow to £76,000 by retirement
63% were motivated by learning that every 80p saved is boosted to £1.60 through tax relief and employer contributions

Marking a step change from savings tactics that have been receptive with their parents’ generation, young adults say the top five things that would make pension savings feel less overwhelming and more achievable are:

A simple goal tracker or progress bar – 31% versus 19% of Gen X and Baby Boomers
Knowing they can start with a small amount – 26% versus 15% of Gen X and Baby Boomers
Examples of what people their age are doing – 23% versus 16% of Gen X and Baby Boomers
Clear bite sized steps to follow – 22%, the same as Gen X and Baby Boomers (22%)
Light-hearted relatable stories – 19% versus 8% of Gen X and Baby Boomers

Kirsty Ross, Proposition Director at People’s Pension, said:

“In a world where financial doom dominates pension conversations, young savers are tuning out. Our research shows they are not disengaged because they don’t care, they are disengaged because the messages aren’t working. Scare tactics and jargon are alienating the very people we need to reach.

“What cuts through is honesty, simplicity and practical advice that shows how small steps today can have a huge impact tomorrow. That’s why we’ve launched our Pension Drop campaign: to change the conversation and show how taking small steps now can make a big difference tomorrow – giving people back a sense of control over their financial futures.”

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. Data conducted on behalf of People’s Pension by Opinium Research from 29th August – 2nd September 2025 among a nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults.

2. People’s Partnership is a business without shareholders; it reinvests its profits with the aim to help customers and achieve better financial outcomes for everyone. It provides People’s Pension, the largest commercial master trust in the UK based on members, serving seven million pension savers across the UK and managing £40bn in assets.

New annuity guidance service for People’s Pension members launched

The provider of the People’s Pension¹, the UK’s largest commercial master trust², has unveiled its new annuity guidance service, as part of its commitment to delivering better outcomes for its seven million members.

Working with market leading Retirement Line³, People’s Pension will now offer free-to-use⁴ enhanced support to members over 55 years old who want to consider the purchase of a guaranteed income for life through an annuity. This announcement is the latest development in the Scheme’s ongoing enhancements of the retirement options it is offering to its members.

A growing number of people are accumulating larger pension pots through automatic enrolment according to data from the Financial Conduct Authority⁵, and more are considering annuities as a way to secure a dependable income in later life.

Through its decade-long ‘New Choices, Big Decisions’ research⁶, People’s Pension has identified a need to better support members with the complex decisions involved in choosing their retirement options, including annuities.

By having access to Retirement Line’s services, People’s Pension members will benefit from a single, dedicated point of contact to help them navigate their retirement journey – from initial guidance through to finalising their annuity. This guidance service includes support to members in completing health questionnaires, helping ensure they are considered for the full range of enhanced or impaired rates offered by providers.

Members will be able to speak with specially trained staff by phone, who will support them in completing health questionnaires and help ensure they are considered for the full range of enhanced or impaired rates offered by providers. They will also have access to interactive online tools and tailored support for vulnerable customers.

Kirsty Ross, Proposition Director for People’s Partnership, provider of the People’s Pension, said:

“This announcement further demonstrates our commitment to supporting members as they approach retirement, by providing clarity at a time when their choices matter most. By offering our members access to Retirement Line, People’s Pension is ensuring they receive clear guidance and personalised support. This is about helping people make confident decisions in later life, with specialist expertise available at every stage of their retirement journey.”

David Meliveo, Chief Commercial Officer for People’s Pension, said:

“Employers want to know their workforce is supported, not just while they’re saving, but when they start making the big decisions that shape life after work. Helping people secure reliable income in retirement is a vital part of that duty of care.

“This new service gives employers confidence that their staff can access specialist, impartial guidance when it matters most. It’s a meaningful step toward improving long-term financial security and ensuring members feel fully supported as they plan for the years ahead.

“This is a great example of how a scheme our size and scale can pass on services to vast numbers of people without it costing them in the long term. While we have millions of members with all sorts of financial backgrounds and needs, this service will really help many of our members who cannot afford personal financial advice. This is a great example of what we stand for.”

Mark Ormston, Chief Compliance Officer at Retirement Line, added:

“We’re delighted to be working with People’s Pension. Especially during a period of competitive annuity rates and strong interest in turning pension savings into secure, guaranteed income. With healthy and growing competition across the annuity market, we look forward to supporting even more consumers in maximising their annuity income by comparing quotes from all the annuity providers on the open market.

“We offer both lifetime and fixed term annuity products on our whole of open market panel, with both products continuing to see increasing demand. In 2025, two thirds of our customers opted for a lifetime annuity, with 80% of these annuities being underwritten based on health and/or lifestyle factors. On average, these consumers received 12% higher annual income compared to the highest standard annuity offered on the open market.

“Whether savers are considering an annuity with all or part of their pension savings, I am confident that People’s Pension members will value the clarity, reassurance and support we provide as they look to make the most of their pension savings.”

Notes to Editor:

1. People’s Pension is the largest commercial master trust in the UK based on members, serving more than seven million pension savers across the UK and managing £40bn in assets. It is provided by People’s Partnership, a business without shareholders, it reinvests its profits with the aim to help customers and achieve better financial outcomes for everyone.

2. This assessment is determined by membership size. People’s Pension currently has more than seven million members, which, according to publicly available industry data, exceeds the membership of any other commercial master trust.

3. Retirement Line is the UK’s largest specialist pensions annuity broker offering guidance and support to help savers secure the best income available from the UK’s leading annuity providers. Based in Peterborough, the company is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Any questions or further information can be obtained via Mark Ormston, Retirement Line: Mobile: 07581 153270 / Email: mark.ormston@retirementline.co.uk.

4. Members are not charged directly for the service. Where an annuity is purchased, Retirement Line is remunerated through provider commission, a proportion of which is rebated to the member according to the value of the purchase. Larger purchases receive a higher rebate as a percentage. Any rebate is automatically added to the purchase amount, increasing the income secured for the member.

5. Retirement income market data 2023/24 | FCA

6. New Choices, Big Decisions : Insights from a decade of retirement journeys – People’s Partnership

People’s Partnership and Good Things Foundation launch two webinars to digitally empower members

People’s Partnership¹, provider of the People’s Pension, has launched two new free webinars with leading digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation², to help members feel more supported and empowered in the digital world.

Millions of people across the UK remain digitally excluded, including many in employment. Around 7.9 million adults³ lack basic digital skills, which can affect how they manage money, use essential services and engage with their workplace pension.

People’s Pension and Good Things Foundation are offering free, practical digital inclusion support that employers and members can use straight away. The short, on demand Build Your Digital Confidence⁴ webinars are designed to both help organisations understand digital exclusion and take simple, practical steps to support their workforce, as well as help members recognise the signs and challenges of digital exclusion and build confidence in signposting the right support.

The employer session covers:

How to spot and support employees who may be digitally excluded
Simple ways to help people feel safer and more confident online
Why digital skills matter for better engagement with workplace pensions

The member session helps members with:

Simple steps to feel safer online
How to spot digital exclusion
Ways to use digital tools with more confidence – including managing their pension digitally

Commenting on the new webinars, Nigel Rodgers, Chief Information Officer at People’s Partnership, said:

“As a pension with purpose, our commitment is to help our seven million members build strong financial foundations for life, with financial wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. A key part of this is digital inclusion, ensuring no one is left behind as more services move online.

“Digital exclusion can have a real financial impact. We believe everyone deserves access to the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to plan for their future. Yet millions of people across the UK continue to face barriers to basic digital access, whether due to a lack of suitable devices, affordable data, or the skills to use online services safely and effectively.

“That’s why digital inclusion matters so deeply to us. It’s not only about improving how people engage with their pension, but about promoting fairness, confidence and independence. Technology should empower people, not exclude them. Through these free webinars, as well as our ongoing work with the Good Things Foundation, we aim to equip employers and support members to help overcome digital barriers and build greater digital confidence.”

James Muscat-Sharp, Director of Partnerships at Good Things Foundation, said:

“Our work with People’s Partnership is focused on tackling the digital divide where it matters most: helping people gain the confidence and skills to manage their financial future. These webinars are a great example of providing practical, simple support to help members feel more empowered and included in the digital world.”

Last year, People’s Partnership announced its first major charity collaboration with Good Things Foundation, bringing financial expertise into the social sector to reach people often excluded from both digital access and financial planning. The initiative is designed to help more people confidently manage their financial future online and includes three modules that People’s Partnership have co-developed for Good Things Foundation’s free online learning platform, Learn My Way⁵.

Notes to Editor:

1. People’s Partnership is a business without shareholders; it reinvests its profits with the aim to help customers and achieve better financial outcomes for everyone. It provides People’s Pension, the largest commercial master trust in the UK based on members, serving seven million pension savers across the UK and managing £40bn in assets.

2. Good Things Foundation is the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity. It works to fix the digital divide at a hyperlocal level with its National Digital Inclusion Network – comprised of over 5,000 community partners providing a range of free digital inclusion support, such as:

The National Databank, providing free mobile connectivity data;
The National Device Bank, supplying free, refurbished devices to people in need;
and Learn My Way, our free flagship basic digital skills platform, which has supported thousands to get online.

It works in partnership with organisations such as Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, Accenture, and Nominet to deliver at scale, and advocate for digital inclusion to fix the digital divide – for good.

Good Things Foundation believes everyone should have the confidence, skills, support and access to use digital technology, participate in society and benefit from the digital world, with an ambition to partner with 5000 UK communities and to support 1 million people by the end of 2025.

Find out more: www.goodthingsfoundation.org

Media contact: press@goodthingsfoundation.org.

3. Digital Nation | The UK’s Digital Divide | Good Things Foundation

4. Members: Pension Talk Extra

Employers: Pension Talk Extra

5. Learn My Way offers free, beginner‑friendly digital skills training – including three pensions modules created through the partnership: ‘Pension Basics’, Managing your Pension Online’ and ‘Accessing your Pension Online’’ – to help people build confidence online.

Employers focus on practical steps to support pension saving among younger workers

Three quarters (74%) of employers worry employees will not save enough for retirement as living costs squeeze disposable income
A similar proportion say they are worried about younger workers (77%) and low earners (77%)
More than four in five SME decision-makers (82%) say they feel a responsibility for employees’ financial wellbeing
Nearly half (45%) want better communication and education about pensions to improve engagement

SME employers are focusing on practical ways to support pension saving, particularly among younger and lower-paid workers, as financial pressures continue to influence saving behaviour, according to new research¹ from People’s Pension².

With nearly three quarters (74%) of employers worried that employees are not saving enough for retirement, there is a clear focus on helping more people stay engaged with long-term saving.

Employers are particularly focused on supporting younger workers and low earners, with more than three quarters (77%) concerned these groups are more exposed to financial pressures and may be more likely to step back from saving as costs rise.

This is reflected in expected behaviours, with one third (32%) saying younger employees are most likely to opt out of workplace pensions. Employers point to affordability as the main reason for opting out (38%), although understanding (24%) and perceived value (18%) also play a role, reinforcing the importance of clear, accessible communication.

Employers call for more support to improve workers’ financial wellbeing

More than four in five SME decision-makers (82%) say they feel a responsibility for employees’ financial wellbeing, even as three quarters (75%) say rising business costs limit how much they can increase pay.

The findings come as many employers identify gaps in pension understanding and engagement. Nearly six in ten (59%) say employees do not fully understand the value of their pension, while more than half (52%) are concerned employees are not engaged or getting the most out of the scheme available to them.

Nearly half of employers (45%) say clearer communication and education about pensions would improve engagement, while 40% highlight the importance of additional support for financial wellbeing and retirement planning.

Stuart Reid, Distribution Director at People’s Partnership, said:

“Employers are clearly focused on how they can support their workforce, particularly younger and lower-paid workers who are more exposed to financial pressure. As many households face renewed pressure on day-to-day finances, helping people stay engaged with long-term saving has become even more important.

“What this research highlights is the importance of communication and support in helping employees engage with their pension. Where understanding is lower, simple and accessible guidance can play an important role in helping people make informed decisions about their long-term finances.

“Even in a challenging environment, workplace pensions remain a key part of long-term financial planning. Supporting employees to stay engaged with saving, even at modest levels, can make a meaningful difference over time.”

Notes to Editor:

1. Data conducted on behalf of People’s Pension by Opinium Research from 22nd December 2025 – 5th January 2026 among a nationally representative survey of 500 SME decision-makers.