UK Investment and Pensions
Since coming into power, the Labour government has been busy working to deliver promises made in its manifesto. One was a Pensions Review, which was announced in August. While this was widely welcomed by the industry, the choice to reserve the power to influence investment decision continues to be met with criticism. Meanwhile a second part of the review, which focuses on pensions adequacy, has been criticised for taking too long.
Pension Funds in the UK - Country Report
UK country report 2025: Defined benefit pension schemes face surplus unlock dilemma
Defined benefit pension schemes could face some tough decisions on how to deal with surpluses if planned legislative changes to ease access come into effect
TOP UK PENSION FUNDS 2025
Pension fund/entity | Assets (€’000)
- Universities Superannuation Scheme | 91,753,728
- Rothesay Life | 85,363,900
- Pension Insurance Corporation | 61,436,725
- NEST | 58,660,261
- Railways Pension Scheme | 40,620,140
©IPE Research; View the Top 1000 European Pensions Funds 2025 for a comprehensive market overview
NEST awards £450m direct lending mandate to Crescent Capital Group
The UK workplace pension scheme aims to allocate 30% of its AUM to private markets by 2030
Viewpoint: Efforts to raise trustee standards must preserve what works
Morten Nilsson of Brightwell Pensions on avoiding the onerous requirements that could further shrink the pool of lay trustees
UK government to limit controversial Pension Schemes Bill reserve power clause
The power would be limited to no more than 10% of total assets held in default funds and by no more than 5% in UK-based assets
Investors pressure freight and logistics companies to tackle air pollution
A coalition of investors, including AkademikerPension, LBP AM, Ethos Foundation, PIRC and Achmea, have said that air pollution is an environmental risk affecting human health
UK government plans ‘targeted changes’ to proposed LGPS regulations
Pensions industry previously raised concerns that the reforms could undermine fiduciary duty and local decision-making
Consultants publish updated ‘climate competency’ guide for asset owners
Latest version said to reflect fact that ‘expectations that were previously aspirational are now generally considered business as usual’
Co-filers decide on protest vote at BP over blocked shareholder resolution
Follow This and 12 co-filers plan to vote against a board resolution about climate disclosures because BP is not tabling its shareholder resolution at its forthcoming AGM
FCA ESG ratings plans attract support but raise concerns over scope
Industry supports FCA oversight of ESG ratings providers but raises concerns over scope, burden and implementation
IPE UK Briefing: House of Lords votes to remove ‘mandation’ clause from Pension Schemes Bill
Plus: Collective defined contribution and pension risk transfer market
TOP MANAGERS: UK INSTITUTIONAL ASSETS
Company | Assets (€m)
- BlackRock | 827,510
- L&G Asset Management | 782,430
- Insight Investment | 482,937
- Schroder Investment Management | 217,864
- Aberdeen Investments | 219,358
- State Street Global Advisors | 187,754*
- Aviva Investors | 173,518
- JPMorgan Asset Management | 124,059**
- Mercer | 74,098*
- Goldman Sachs Management | 66,631
As at 31.12.24, *31.3.25, **28.2.25
©IPE Research; Sign up to IPE Profesional to see all the data in the latest country report
IPE BEST PENSION FUND IN THE UK AWARD WINNERS
- 2024 - Environment Agency Pension Fund
- 2023 - Pension Protection Fund
- 2022 - Greater Manchester Pension Fund | Pension Protection Fund
- 2021 - BTPS
- 2020 - Environment Agency Pension Fund
Interviews
- Previous
- Next
The UK’s ‘deep tech’ sector: a paradox for policymakers and institutional investors
Deep tech now represents 31% of all UK venture funding – a threefold increase from a decade ago
Thoughtful engagement with AI is no longer an option for asset managers and pension funds
The arrival of AI into the investment process has the potential to vastly amplify existing research-related information disparity
NEST awards £450m direct lending mandate to Crescent Capital Group
The UK workplace pension scheme aims to allocate 30% of its AUM to private markets by 2030
Viewpoint: Efforts to raise trustee standards must preserve what works
Morten Nilsson of Brightwell Pensions on avoiding the onerous requirements that could further shrink the pool of lay trustees
UK government to limit controversial Pension Schemes Bill reserve power clause
The power would be limited to no more than 10% of total assets held in default funds and by no more than 5% in UK-based assets
Investors pressure freight and logistics companies to tackle air pollution
A coalition of investors, including AkademikerPension, LBP AM, Ethos Foundation, PIRC and Achmea, have said that air pollution is an environmental risk affecting human health
UK government plans ‘targeted changes’ to proposed LGPS regulations
Pensions industry previously raised concerns that the reforms could undermine fiduciary duty and local decision-making
Consultants publish updated ‘climate competency’ guide for asset owners
Latest version said to reflect fact that ‘expectations that were previously aspirational are now generally considered business as usual’
Co-filers decide on protest vote at BP over blocked shareholder resolution
Follow This and 12 co-filers plan to vote against a board resolution about climate disclosures because BP is not tabling its shareholder resolution at its forthcoming AGM
FCA ESG ratings plans attract support but raise concerns over scope
Industry supports FCA oversight of ESG ratings providers but raises concerns over scope, burden and implementation
Copyright © 1997–2026 IPE International Publishers Limited, Registered in England, Reg No. 3233596, VAT No. 685 1784 92. Registered Office: 1 Kentish Buildings, 125 Borough High Street, London SE1 1NP
Site powered by Webvision Cloud