In September 2026, Aon reported GBP 10.2 billion of UK bulk annuity transactions completed during the first half of the year, bringing smaller pension schemes into focus in an active risk transfer market. The figures concern January to June transactions, rather than deals completed when the analysis was published. For multinational employers with legacy UK defined benefit obligations, the practical question is whether their scheme can execute a suitable

Default guided retirement solutions for defined contribution pension holders could expose millions of retirees to financial losses, according to new research from the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). The study, commissioned by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, evaluated four retirement income models against behavioral evidence on pension decision-making: drawdown, immediate annuities, flex and fix, and retirement collective defined contribution (CDC). Under the Pension Schemes Act 2026, DC trustees must

Howden Employee Benefits in September 2026 appointed John Deegan to its U.K. board as a Non-Executive Director, while also bringing him on as an adviser to its Global Employee Benefits Executive Leadership Team. Deegan brings more than 25 years of experience from Mercer Marsh Benefits and its predecessor businesses, where he led the multinational employee benefits operation and oversaw Darwin, its global benefits technology platform. Over his career he

The U.K.’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in September 2026 published coordinated consultation papers proposing a bespoke regulatory regime for captive insurers, aiming to build a domestic market that currently does not exist. U.K. groups typically establish captives in Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Luxembourg or Bermuda; the consultation closes October 14, 2026, with implementation targeted for mid-2027. The initial phase covers single-parent captives

Arboreum in September 2026 launched a multi-employer, whole-of-life collective defined contribution (CDC) pension plan in the U.K. designed to give members a target-based income for life. The firm, owned by Collective Pensions and majority backed by the Vestey and Timpson family businesses, developed the scheme with Hymans Robertson and CMS. The launch follows The Pensions Regulator’s (TPR) decision to begin accepting applications for multi-employer CDC schemes on 31 July

In the UK, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) in September 2026 unveiled a new outcomes-focused enforcement approach that prioritizes early intervention and data-driven risk detection over rigid compliance checks, aiming to prevent harm to pension savers before it occurs. Under the framework, TPR will evaluate potential enforcement cases based on three factors: impact, scale, and complexity. High-impact or high-scale cases will typically take priority even when straightforward, while low-impact, low-scale

UK pension industry bodies in September 2026 urged the government to overhaul the General Levy framework before pushing through proposed increases, warning the changes could unfairly burden large schemes and undermine consolidation goals. Responding to the DWP’s consultation on the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes General Levy Regulations Review 2026, Pensions UK acknowledged the need to address the levy deficit funding bodies such as The Pensions Regulator, the Money

GRiD published its annual group risk claims figures on 16 June 2026. The UK industry paid approximately GBP2.69 billion during 2025 across employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness cover. The release also reports that 5,590 employees absent through ill health were helped to return to work by the end of 2025. The figures cover different products and should retain those distinctions. Income protection payments include new and

From 6 April 2026, UK employers must keep adequate records of annual leave and holiday pay and retain them for at least six years from the date they were made. Acas explains the requirement, including leave taken, carried-over leave and relevant payments. The change follows section 35 of the Employment Rights Act 2025. Acas also states that records must be handled in line with UK GDPR. The requirement brings

The Prudential Regulation Authority stated on 29 April 2026 that protected cell company captives would not be included in the initial launch of the UK’s new captive regime, then expected in summer 2027. Legislative changes needed for PCCs to operate as insurers would not be ready in time for the planned consultation or launch. The PRA intended to consult on incorporating PCCs once legislation was in place. It describes

Everywhen’s publication dated 14 April 2026 reports that 43% of UK companies do not have a formal health and wellbeing strategy. The finding concerns employers’ reported approach to strategy. It does not measure diagnosed illness, employee access to treatment or the effectiveness of a particular benefit. The publisher’s indexed announcement was available for this review, but the complete publication and its methodology were not retrieved. The figure should therefore

The UK’s Statement of Changes HC 1691, laid on 5 March 2026, introduces targeted entry-clearance restrictions from 26 March 2026. The Student provisions concern nationals or citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. The Skilled Worker provision concerns nationals or citizens of Afghanistan. Applications made before commencement are subject to the stated transitional treatment. The scope matters. The text should not be described as a prohibition on every visa

The UK’s Statement of Changes HC 1691, published on 5 March 2026, raises English requirements to CEFR B2 for settlement in specified routes from 26 March 2027, subject to exemptions. The changes include route-specific provisions for speaking and listening. They should not be presented as a universal B2 requirement for every immigration application made in March 2026. Settlement is a separate stage from initial permission to work. Employers and

Everywhen’s research release dated 18 February 2026 reports that 59% of respondents were concerned about employee mental health. Its research note identifies an Opinium survey of 500 UK HR decision makers conducted in January. The result describes employers’ stated concerns; it does not measure diagnosed illness, treatment outcomes or the effectiveness of a particular benefit. The findings offer a useful prompt for benefits teams to review the relationship between

As of April 2, 2025, European nationals must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the United Kingdom. This marks the final stage of deployment of the U.K. ETA requirement, after all other already eligible nationals. As of early March 2025, the ETA application system is open for E.U. nationals as well. E.U. travelers must now factor in time and cost (GBP 10 per person) when planning

Zürich, Switzerland-based broker ASN, Advisory Services Network, in April 2021 appointed Kieran Brown as their General Manager in the UK. Brown’s appointment occurs as ASN enters the post-Brexit UK international insurance market. Brown, who was General Manager of Now Health International Europe (NHI) from 2018 to 2021, comes to ASN with over 25 years of experience in international insurance, having worked for Bupa, AXA PPP Healthcare, Cigna and NHI.

U.K. risk and insurance management association Airmic in April 2021 appointed Julia Graham as its new CEO. She takes over from John Ludlow and will work with the association’s chairwoman Tracey Skinner. Previously, Graham served as director of risk management and insurance at global law firm DLA Piper; head of strategic risk, insurance, and compliance for RSA; and was Airmic’s deputy CEO and technical director since 2015. A past

Published in December 2019, Neyber’s report, the DNA of Financial Wellbeing, which has surveyed over 42,000 people since 2016 suggests that absence, productivity and turnover of staff costs UK employers over £15.2 billion per annum. The report shows that employees’ financial woes are indeed a burden on employers as their spending habits (and results thereof) are a direct contributor to lost revenue at firms. With this report looking at

Cancer can change a person’s world beyond recognition. During this often highly stressful time, work can provide an oasis of normality and routine. However, the experiences of those working through a cancer diagnosis can vary widely. Employee benefits specialist Unum recently conducted a survey of 300 U.K. workers diagnosed with cancer in the last five years. Published in November 2019, the survey explored workers’ attitudes and challenges, as well

Vodafone announces the appointment of Alexandra Kitching to the position of Pensions and Benefits Manager effective October 2019. She will be based in London. Kitching comes to Vodafone from Deloitte UK where she was Consulting Manager, Human Capital, as well as Senior Consultant (D.C. Pensions and Group Risk) prior to being promoted to Consulting Manager. Prior to Deloitte, she was with NAPF as a Pension Quality Mark Manager. She

Discovery has announced the promotion of Hannah Naude to Director, International Compensation & Benefits, effective October 2019. She will remain based in London. Naude was previously Senior Manager Manager, International Compensation & Benefits. Before joining Discovery, she was a Human Resources Advisor at inVentiv Health Commercial, and worked in HR for the Save the Children foundation and Viasat Broadcasting. She started her HR career in Human Resources and Quality

First Actuarial in October 2019 announced the appointment of Martin Leigh as D.C. Consultant, based in Tonbridge, UK. Leigh joins First Actuarial from EQ Investors where he was a Corporate Pensions & Risk Benefits Manager. Previously, he was an account manager for Creative Employee Benefits, and Intermediary Relationship Manager with B&CE Benefits Scheme. He was also Client Relationship Manager for Aviva plc. He holds a Certificate in Marketing from

Mercer has appointed Sam Johnson as a Global Consultant effective September 2019. Johnson is based in London, UK. Johnson comes to Mercer from Fidelity Investments, where he worked in International Benefits. Prior to that he was a Global Benefits Consultant for Aon Risk Solutions and a futures trader for H2O Trading LLP. He holds a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, 1:1 from the University of Warwick.

Internet registrar and web hosting firm GoDaddy in September 2019 announced the appointment of Yasemin Sezgin as their new Director Compensation & Benefits EMEA, based in London, UK. Yasemin joins from Fox International Channels where she was Director Compensation & Benefits for Europe & Africa. Prior to Fox, she worked for Yıldız Holding as Head of Global Reward and HRIS; Goodyear Lastikleri as Compensation & Benefits Manager; Nestle Turkey

Swiss Re in August 2019 announced it had acquired the UK closed book business of Quilter. The acquisition was made through Swiss Re’s specialized subsidiary ReAssure and includes Old Mutual Wealth Life Assurance and Old Mutual Wealth Pensions Trustees. Quilter is mostly comprised of companies belonging to the former Old Mutual group. It is active in investment consulting and asset management (GBP 45 billion in assets under management –

Debenhams, a British multinational retailer based in London, in July 2019 named Sarah Purnell as Head of Rewards. Purnell comes to Debenhams from the Arcadia Group, where she was Group Reward Manager, and Travelport, where she was Director, Compensation and Benefits. Prior to that she was Senior Compensation and Benefits Manager for Lucazed Ribena Suntory, Uxbridge, UK, and Head of UK Reward & Benefits for Tesco. She began her

Nick Burns in July 2019 joined Gallagher as the new CEO of its UK Employee Benefits Consulting Division. He now is based in London and succeeds Tim Johnson. Prior to joining Gallagher, Burns was a non-executive adviser for SMEs and start-ups in employee benefits and creative technology, including Hybrid Legal; Brand Biology; Engage Works; and Neyber. Earlier, he was the CEO of Capita E.B. Solutions; of consulting firm Bluefin;