Welcome to the Admin and Data Forum hosted by Professional Pensions. Please ensure you arrive with plenty of time to get settled and enjoy some refreshments before the opening remarks commence!

With the Pensions Dashboard Programme gaining momentum and the first connection date just around the corner on the 30th April, it is integral to remain informed in order to prepare for connection. Hear from the Pensions Dashboard Programme for a detailed progress update alongside insights from connection testing with volunteer participants.

This session will address:

• What has been the connection experience for volunteer participants
• How to prepare for connection and what are the challenges to look out for
• What can schemes do to overcome these challenges

This session will challenge the "digital-first" mindset, which has been a buzz word in our industry for a number of years.

Gillian and Jonny will discuss the challenges facing our industry and explore how a human-centred approach, supported by the right technology, can empower admin teams, improve member experiences, and ultimately build better futures for all.

This session will explore how effective communication strategies are an essential part of data projects, from addressing complex data corrections and benefit adjustments to managing routine interactions. We’ll look at how good strategies can enhance the member experience, particularly for those members who are vulnerable, and how we can leverage technology to meet individuals’ communication needs.

An ideal opportunity to connect with fellow trustees and relish refreshments, for first class company and a second to none experience!

Improved funding levels has resulted in many schemes fast approaching endgame and targeting risk transfer transactions. Ensuring that your scheme has accurate member data is crucial for entering the BPA market and gaining the best price. Central to this administrative journey are the members themselves, effectively communicating with them and bringing them along for the ride. So, what are the stages to a smooth administration journey to endgame for sponsor and member?

This session will address:

• What are the critical administrative stages to prepare your data for risk transfer
• How to support members during and after this process
• What does buy out ready look like from a data and administration standpoint
• What happens if your target end date for buyout changes
• Why effective administration is still critical if you have a longer endgame date

Data reigns supreme! Amid competing requirements in pensions administration and a legacy of administration having been neglected, pension records are at a critical stage requiring significant improvement. But how can schemes effectively enhance and maintain high-quality data records in a cost-effective manner, all while delivering a member experience that fosters long-term engagement?

This session will address:

• Why data accuracy matters
• What technological processes are there that can improve member records
• How to improve records in the most proportionate and cost-effective manner
• How to provide an effective member experience, ensuring self-managed records and future accuracy

Pensions administration has been grappling with unprecedented challenges and is now at a tipping point. Limited resources, widening skills gaps, escalating workloads, decreasing data quality, and the urgent need and demand for automation is stretching the administrative capabilities of schemes and their personnel, thereby impacting member service levels.

How can we address these critical shortfalls and ensure that pension schemes are not only resilient but also future-ready and compliant, all while delivering exceptional service standards and enhancing member engagement?

This session aims to deliver actionable insights and practical strategies to help you navigate the route to digital administration and ensure your schemes are well-prepared for the future.

• Building a Strong Business Case: How do you develop and implement strategies to secure greater investment in administration solutions from trustees and sponsors.
• Adopting Digital Tools: How to leverage technology and digital solutions to streamline and enhance administrative services, and why transitioning to a digital first model is crucial.
• Supporting New Talent: Effective ways to attract, encourage, and support new talent.
• Preparing for Future Challenges: Insights on navigating change and the upcoming regulatory developments and potential industry impacts, such as the Virgin Media vs NTL case.

As Integrated Service Providers (ISPs) prepare to process live dashboard requests, scheme data will soon face real-world scrutiny. This session outlines the essentials steps schemes must take to meet members’ expectations, focusing on two key areas: preparing for accurate matching and delivering reliable view data. Attendees will learn how to ensure their data is ready to be assessed, avoid pitfalls, and strengthen member trust. With dashboards moving closer to reality, this session provides schemes with the tools and guidance to navigate the upcoming challenges with confidence.

The pension landscape is evolving, with market forces and regulatory expectations converging to push schemes beyond merely meeting minimum requirements. The challenge now is how they can bridge the gap between operational and governance best practice to deliver meaningful improvements for pension savers.

PASA’s outcomes-based standards play a vital role in this journey. They support schemes in achieving operational excellence and also underpin PASA Accreditation, the hallmark of best practice. While not all schemes and administrators are immediately ready to achieve full Accreditation, adopting PASA’s standards sets them on the path toward improved outcomes for their members.

This fireside chat style session will address:

• The practical strategies for implementing PASA standards
• The benefits of a best-practice approach, and how incremental progress can make a significant impact on member outcomes
• Insights on taking the next step toward administration excellence