The Governance and Pensions Solutions (GPS) team has evolved from providing trustee secretariat support to offering governance and outsourced pensions management services in response to the increasing demand in the industry. We work with schemes of all shapes and sizes, including some of the biggest and most intricate pension schemes in the UK, assisting both trustee boards and corporate functions. We believe in fostering a trusted partnership with our clients, becoming one of the team and taking a proactive approach, which is crucial in a constantly changing environment. We always ensure best practice for our clients and provide them with the comfort that their pension scheme arrangements are in good hands.
Trustee Secretariat
For decades, the GPS team has been providing trustee secretariat services to some of the most prestigious UK pension schemes. These services are essential to ensure that trustee boards meet their responsibilities and adhere to governance requirements that are constantly changing.
We offer a comprehensive trustee secretariat solution or support to existing in-house pension professionals and their advisers. By staying up to date with the latest trustee obligations and focusing on continuous improvement, GPS provides forward-looking trustee secretariat support. This ensures that the trustee board remains legally compliant and follows best practice.
Our team is comprised of secretariat professionals with extensive strategic and operational experience, allowing us to provide a holistic pension solution.
We tailor our trustee secretariat services to meet the specific needs of each client. Some of the services we offer are:
- Comprehensive trustee meeting support – from logistics to minute taking
- Trustee governance compliance and controls
- Report and accounts coordination
- Trustee appointment and trusteeship
- Adviser and third-party coordination
- Member communications
- Support with financial controls, processes and management information
- Implementation of necessary changes due to Legislation, for example, the introduction of the general code.
Governance
Effective pension governance requires a proactive approach rather than a reactive one. The GPS team stays up to date with the latest pension developments, offering clients timely updates and recommendations on governance. This allows trustees to stay ahead of the curve. A good example is the GPS team working with clients on the Pensions Regulator’s general code of practice well in advance, ensuring the timely identification of any gaps and ensuring schemes are well placed for the subsequent implementation.
Our services cover a variety of governance options that can be tailored to suit our clients' needs. These options include:
- Compliance with the Pensions Regulator’s code of practice
- Trustee board effectiveness review
- Support with trustee knowledge and understanding
- Trustee training
- Policy drafting and review
- Business continuity planning
For more information on the full range of governance services, visit our Pensions Governance web page.
Pensions Management Outsourcing
Employers face challenges in meeting their pension requirements due to rising pension demands and financial constraints. Moreover, the retirement or departure of in-house pension managers adds to their resourcing dilemma. To address this issue, GPS provides a Pensions Management Outsourcing service that caters to both trustee boards and corporate functions.
We offer a comprehensive outsourced solution as well as additional support for existing in-house functions to alleviate the everyday demands of managing a pension scheme. This approach can enhance efficiency and enable clients to concentrate on other vital business operations. Our Pensions Management Outsourcing services include:
- In-house support
- Secondment
- Project management
- Individual case management support provided by our Case Management Unit.
Hiring an outsourced pensions manager can be a cost-effective alternative to seeking advice from professional advisers or hiring temporary cover for parental leave or long-term sickness. In addition, there are other advantages to consider:
- Quick deployment – GPS can parachute support into your business at short notice
- GPS has a large and experienced team, which removes key person risk
- A strong pensions governance function will allow GPS to identify and implement legislative change efficiently
- Not having to recruit will allow management to sharpen the focus on key deliverables
- Access to WTW’s extensive research and technical capabilities
- GPS work closely with the wider WTW business, meaning we can offer a complete pensions solution.
Case Management Unit
Increased pension governance requirements often mean that trustees and in-house teams have less time to focus on matters important to members and their beneficiaries.
To alleviate the pressure of running a pension scheme, trustees are seeking specialist support to manage their obligations to members more effectively and in a consistent and thoughtful manner, by outsourcing the management of individual cases to a specialist provider.
WTW’s Case Management Unit (CMU) is a dedicated team within the Governance and Pensions Solutions (GPS) function, that provides expert support on:
- Death Discretionary Cases
- Transfer Referrals
- Escalated Complaints through the IDRP
The CMU is a team of expert consultants who approach individual case management in a personalised, sensitive, and empathetic manner. Engaging the CMU would:
- Improve member and beneficiary experience
- Facilitate trustee and in-house efficiencies
- Ensure a robust governance solution
Our keen attention to detail, thorough due diligence and processes will ensure there is a clear audit trail should the outcome of a member case be challenged by the Pensions Ombudsman.
