15-19 September 2025
Uncategorized
Wales Pension Parnership: Fit for the Future – FAQs for LGPS Scheme Members and Employers
- What is the Wales Pension Partnership (WPP)?
The WPP is a collaboration of the eight LGPS funds in Wales. It was established in 2017 to pool the investment management of assets and deliver better value, governance, and performance for Welsh pension funds. The WPP is governed by a Joint Governance Committee using an Operator model (provided by Waystone Management (UK) Limited) and supported by external advisors.
- What is “Fit for the Future”?
The “Fit for the Future” initiative was borne out of a UK Government consultation launched in November 2024 as part of a broader review of UK Pensions to strengthen the governance and operational models of Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) investment pools. It aims to ensure all LGPS assets are fully under pool management and that pools operate with greater autonomy and efficiency.
The WPP submitted a Business Case to Government at the end of February 2025, to make a case for continuing as a Welsh Pool and, therefore, continuing to realise the benefits the Pool brings to Wales. This was approved by Government in April 2025.
- What did the WPP’s “Fit for the Future” Business Case propose?
WPP’s business case, submitted in response to the Government’s consultation, proposed:
• Retaining a standalone Welsh investment pool.
• Building internal capacity to meet new governance and operational requirements through the creation of the Wales Pension Partnership Investment Management Company (WPP IM Co).
• Completing the transfer of all assets to come under pool management.
• Enhancing transparency, accountability, and value for money.
- What is “Project Snowdon”?
Project Snowdon is WPP’s internal initiative, comprising Section 151 Officers and senior Pension Fund Officers of the eight Welsh LGPS Pension Funds, supported by WPP advisers, to implement the proposals set out in the WPP’s Business Case.
- How will this affect LGPS Scheme Members?
There will be no change to your pension benefits, including any Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVC’s) you may have. The changes we are implementing are about how pension assets are managed and invested, not about the benefits you receive. The goal is to ensure your pension is managed more efficiently and sustainably.
- How will this affect Employers?
Employers can expect:
• Continued strong governance and oversight of pension investments.
• Potential for greater cost efficiency and improved investment outcomes.
• No change to employer responsibilities or contribution processes.
- Will this change who administers the pension funds?
No. The eight Welsh Pension Funds will remain with the Administering Authorities and retain local ownership of strategic decisions, but will see their investment decisions implemented by the WPP IM Co. The WPP will continue to use external fund managers, but with enhanced oversight and possibly more in-house capabilities to meet new requirements.
- What are the benefits of this proposal?
• Stronger governance and accountability.
• Improved investment performance through scale and expertise.
• Cost savings through pooling and operational efficiencies.
• Alignment with Government expectations, ensuring long-term sustainability.
- What are the next steps?
The UK Government has provided a positive instruction to the WPP to progress and implement the creation of the WPP IM Co. Work will continue at pace to ensure completion of this within the Government’s expected timescales.
- Where can I find more information?
You can read the full WPP Business Plan and Fit for the Future submission on the Wales Pension Partnership website or contact your local pension fund administrator.
Pension Dashboards
What is the Pension Dashboard?
The Department for Work and Pensions, via the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), is creating a Pension Dashboard that will be free for all UK citizens to use to view their pension information securely, online and in one place, even if living abroad.
All pension schemes in the UK, including the LGPS need to connect to the dashboard ecosystem to provide pension members information in a secure way. The project is being managed by the Pension Dashboard Programme, you can see all about them at their website.
This is an external link to the Pensions Dashboard Programme and is not available in Welsh:
Why does the Government want to set up a Pension Dashboard?
The aim is simple, they want the pension industry to provide clear and simple information about an individual’s multiple pension savings, including their State Pension. They also want the industry to help citizens to reconnect with any lost pension pots they have.
When will it be launched?
Dashboards were planned to be launched in phases, or waves. However, in March 2023 a written ministerial statement was issued which suggested these timelines may shift further into the future.
This has now been confirmed in new regulations, Pension Dashboards (Amendment) Regulations 2023, which came into force in August 2023. New ‘staging dates’ have now been released too. Public sector schemes like the LGPS must connect by 31 October 2025.
This is an external link to the Written Ministerial Statement and is not available in Welsh:
Do LGPS members need to do anything?
No you don’t. For the time being it is up to schemes, administrators and employers to make sure that member data is accurate and up-to-date whilst the industry works on the technical and technological framework to deliver the dashboard.
McCloud Judgment-FAQs for Members
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities has produced a FAQ document to help members understand the McCloud Judgment and if their pension is affected.
Statement from the Wales Pension Partnership and the LGPS in Wales
We are deeply saddened by the situation in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the
Ukrainian people.
Our total exposure to Russian Investments is minimal at less than 1%. Even so, in light of the
terrible events we have witnessed and the economic sanctions imposed internationally, as a
collective we have decided to divest from these holdings as soon as is practically possible.
Given the circumstances we do not believe that engagement with these companies presents
a viable option.
Cllr Clive Lloyd
For and behalf of the Wales Pension Partnership and the LGPS in Wales
Pension fund on course to hit green target
Swansea Council’s award-winning pension fund is on course to cut its carbon footprint to 50% of index levels by next year, full Council will be told next week.
The £2.1bn fund looking after the retirement funds of 47,000 members has already taken major steps to reduce its carbon footprint by cutting the amount of cash invested in oil companies and other organisations with a high carbon intensity.
And earlier this year it agreed a £30m investment in green energy production companies around the world.
In a special report to Council next week that looks at Swansea’s commitment to tackling climate change, new figures reveal that the fund’s carbon footprint is down 47% from index levels and on course to more than match the ambitious 50% reduction target set four years ago.
On top of that the fund has also committed money to a UK investment fund that supports creating homes for rent aimed at ‘squeezed middle-income’ families who can’t afford mortgages and don’t qualify for social housing.
Clive Lloyd, chair of the Swansea Pension Fund committee, said: “The fund is delivering for its 47,000 members, it is delivering for the future of the planet and it is delivering for people who need affordable homes to rent.
“We were the first local government pension scheme in Wales – and among only a small number in the world – to commission a review of our equity investment portfolio to find out the exact extent of our carbon and fossil fuel related investments.
“Since then we have moved £0.5bn of assets into low carbon index tracking funds which has reduced further what was already a low level of investments in carbon-related industries.
“Earlier this year, working with investment firm BlackRock, the fund started investing in a range of solar and wind power infrastructure projects that aim to deliver long-term sustainable benefits for the fund and contribute to the transition to a cleaner economy.
“This latest step is part of an on-going effort to gain attractive returns for pensioners, reduce our carbon footprint and support climate-friendly energy production.”
He said the pension fund has also committed itself to supporting two community-based affordable housing strategies operated by BMO Global Asset Management and Man Group. The idea behind the initiative is to provide quality private rented accommodation or share-ownership housing in the UK at below the prevailing market rent in the chosen area using the recognised Flex rent /Rowntree methodology for determining local affordability.
Cllr Lloyd said: “This is not social housing but affordable housing for families who cannot afford market rents and do not qualify for social housing, the ‘squeezed middle’.”
The Swansea fund – which Swansea Council manages for Swansea, Neath Port Talbot as well as a number of other employers in the area – has already been recognised at the LAPF Investments Awards, which celebrate outstanding achievement by pension funds and service providers.
Swansea won the award for the fund with the Best Approach to Sustainable Investment in the UK in 2019. It’s also been nominated for Best Investment Strategy and Best Investment Innovation in this year’s awards, thanks to an equity protection programme that saved the fund £9m when the global equity market fell by -20% earlier this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Cllr Lloyd added: “Last year we passed a motion in Swansea declaring a Climate Emergency and we urged the UK government to do the same.
“We are making decisions and taking practical steps every day that are making a real difference but we know we can and we will do more. We are determined to make Swansea the most green and energy efficient council in Wales.”
