This category will recognise an individual, who has worked in the pensions industry for 10 years or less on 31 March 2026, who has made the biggest difference to pensions over the past year.

The winner will not only be able to demonstrate excellence in their own field of pensions expertise – but also show commitment to the industry as a whole.

Congratulations on being nominated for the Trainee of the Year category of Professional Pensions’ Rising Star Awards.

This category reflects the continued importance of training in the pensions industry.

The category is open to all individuals who are currently undertaking, or have just completed, a training scheme or programme of training within the pensions industry. It is not specific to any particular role – and is open to those involved in roles such as pensions management, trusteeship, consulting; legal advice, investment management and scheme administration. Nominees in this category must have started their training at least six months ago (on or before 30 September 2025). If they have finished training, they must have completed it no more than 12 months ago (31 March 2025).

The individual should provide evidence of how they have contributed to the success of their business or scheme, highlighting any specific projects they have undertaken or successes they have achieved.

They should also describe how they have developed their skills since starting their role. Those nominating individuals in this category are encouraged to attest to why the nominee would make an inspiring leader in pension advice.

Congratulations on being nominated for the Trustee of the Year category of Professional Pensions’ Rising Star Awards.

This accolade aims to recognise the rising stars of pension trusteeship and is open to both professional (independent) and lay trustees who have worked in the pensions industry or been in their role for a total of 10 years or less on 31 March 2026.

This award will serve as inspiration for other young people to consider a role as a pension scheme trustee. Nominees for this category should share their successes as a scheme trustee – detailing how they got involved in their role and what they have achieved during their time in post.

Congratulations on being nominated for the Actuary / Consultant of the Year category of Professional Pensions’ Rising Star Awards.

This category is open to those who have worked in the pensions industry for 10 years or less on 31 March 2026 and is for those who have completed their actuarial or consulting training and are now into the next stage of their career.

Nominees for this category should provide evidence of their successes – detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile’ in their role, cite specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 31 March 2026; and demonstrate their qualities as a future leader in pensions advice.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the broader pensions industry.

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This category is open to those who have worked in the pensions industry for 10 years or less on 31 March 2026 and is for those who have completed their initial qualifications in pension scheme administration and have taken the next step in their career, either as part of an in-house team or at a third-party pensions administration firm.

Nominees for this category should provide evidence of their successes – detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile’ in their role, cite specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 31 March 2026; and demonstrate their qualities as a future leader in pensions advice.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the pensions industry more broadly.

This category is open to those who have worked in the pensions industry for 10 years or less on 31 March 2026 and is for those who have completed their legal training and are now into the next stage of their career.

Nominees for this category should provide evidence of their successes – detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile’ in their role, cite specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 31 March 2026; and demonstrate their qualities as a future leader in pensions advice.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the broader pensions industry.

This category is open to those who have worked in the pensions industry for 10 years or less on 31 March 2026 and is for those who have completed their initial qualifications in investment management and have taken the next step in their career as an analysts, allocators or portfolio managers, either at third-party asset management firms or within a pension scheme’s in-house asset management operations.

Nominees for this category should provide evidence of their successes – detailing how they have ‘gone the extra mile’ in their role, cite specific successes and achievements they have had over the 12 months to 31 March 2026; and demonstrate their qualities as a future leader in pensions advice.

They should also highlight how they have overcome challenges in their career and how they are contributing to the pensions industry more broadly.

This category reflects the continued importance of training schemes in the pensions investments industry. The category is open to all individuals who are currently undertaking, or have just completed, a training scheme for an investment position within an asset management or consulting firm.

Nominees in this category must have started their training at least six months ago (on or before 30 September 2025). If they have finished training, they must have completed it no more than 12 months ago (31 March 2025). The individual should provide evidence of how they have contributed to the success of their business, highlighting any specific projects they have undertaken or successes they have achieved.

They should also describe how they have developed their skills since embarking on their firm’s training scheme.

Those nominating individuals in this category are encouraged to attest to why the nominee would make an inspiring leader in investment management/consulting.

This category is open to individuals who have helped revolutionise the communications and member experience within pension schemes – either as a trustee, scheme administrator, pension manager or adviser.

The individual should be able to demonstrate how they have put the member at the heart of what they have done and help introduce new solutions to member challenges. Judges will be especially looking for candidates who can prove they really understand what top-quality member service and communications looks like – and can provide evidence of how what they have done has made a tangible difference to members.

This category is open to those those who have worked in the pensions industry for 10 years or less on 31 March 2026.

Congratulations on being nominated for the Mentor of the Year category of Professional Pensions’ Rising Star Awards.

Open to individuals in the pensions sector who have supported and encouraged the rising stars of tomorrow through mentoring, training or other initiatives.

Congratulations on being nominated for the Team of the Year category of Professional Pensions’ Rising Star Awards.

This category is open to a team of rising stars who are able to demonstrate how they have collectively gone the extra mile to help clients or scheme members; used their skills to complete a particularly challenging or stretching project; or have otherwise had successes over the year to 31 March 2026.

Teams being nominated for this category should be predominantly made up of ‘rising stars’ – those who have worked in the pensions industry for 10 years or less on 31 March 2026.

This category reflects the continued importance of training schemes in the pensions industry and aims to recognise the firm or scheme that offers the best training scheme in pensions.

The category is open to pension schemes as well as those firms providing advice and services to pension schemes. Judges will be looking for evidence of the quality of a firm’s training scheme, how it helps to develop trainees, how it goes ‘above and beyond’ the standards laid down by any professional body, and the support the businesses provide to its trainees more broadly.

It should particularly focus on how this training scheme has been improved over the 12 months to 31 March 2026.

This category reflects the continued importance of ongoing training and development in the pensions industry and aims to recognise the firm or scheme that best supports and develops its staff, especially those ‘rising stars’, those who have worked in the pensions industry for 10 years or less.

The category is open to pension schemes as well as those firms providing advice and services to pension schemes. Judges will look for evidence of how schemes and firms have supported and facilitated initiatives to help develop and foster new talent in the industry, how their training and development goes ‘above and beyond’ what is offered by their peers and look at the broader support and assistance provided to individuals to help them reach the next stage of their career.