Event Details

Key Speakers

	David Yeandle OBE, Lead, "Making Automatic Enrolment Work" —, A Review for the Department for Work and Pensions
	Baroness Jeannie Drake CBE, former Pensions Commissioner
	Helen Dean, Head of Scheme Development, NEST Corporation

Overview

Despite a rapidly ageing population, around seven million people in the UK are not saving enough to meet their retirement aspirations. With current trends indicating that by 2050 there will be just two workers for every pensioner, there has been a general cross-party acknowledgement that our pensions system must be reformed urgently.

Seeking to avert the looming pension crisis, the Government has moved to encourage more people to save into a private pension, delivering greater and fairer financial security for all, particularly women and carers. The Pensions Act 2011 brings into law new workplace pension reform measures including:

• Creation of the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST), a new national workplace pension scheme
• New legal duties requiring all employers to automatically enrol eligible jobholders into a qualifying pension scheme and make minimum contributions
• A compliance regime to ensure employers and others meet their new duties and workers get their new rights

Additional measures have also been introduced to reduce the financial and bureaucratic burden on businesses, including greater flexibility around the automatic enrolment date and simplifying the process for employers to certify that their schemes meet requirements.

With the new proposals expected to be implemented in October 2012, preparation and planning starts now to incorporate the compulsory plans into every company and organisation’s HR and employee welfare policies. This timely symposium offers an invaluable opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of the complex new measures and of what will be required of employers.

Delegates will:

• Understand the Government’s vision for pension reform and analyse the latest policy developments
• Assess the impact reformative measures will have on your organisation, taxpayers, members and the wider pensions industry
• Receive informative and practical guidance on how best to implement the reforms within organisations to ensure a smooth transition for employers and employees
• Debate, share ideas and network with colleagues from across the pensions, HR, organisational development and Government landscape

Programme

Who Should Attend?

• HR Directors & Professionals
• Local Authority Officers & Councillors
• Central Government Departments & Bodies
• Pension Regulators
• CFOs / Senior Financial Officers / Finance Directors
• Pensions Trustees
• Fund Managers
• Pension Advisers
• Employee Relations Advisers
• Financial Advisers
• Regulatory Bodies
• Training Managers
• Audit / Compliance Officials
• Private Sectors Employers
• Public Sector Employers
• Small Business Owners
• Recruitment Advisers & Professionals
• Organisational Development Professionals
• Equal Opportunities Officers
• Employment Training / Skills Organisations
• Equality, Diversity & Human Rights Practitioners
• Immigration Advisers
• Employee Relations Advisers
• Welfare Rights Organisations
• Legal Advisers
• Campaigning Organisations
• Organisational Development Professionals
• Citizen’s Advice & Third Sector Practitioners
• Trade Union Representatives
• Academics

“We have addressed the concerns of business, with measures in law to slash bureaucracy and cut costs, saving them around £176 million each year. And we are bringing the reforms in gradually to give firms time to adjust.
Automatic enrolment will get millions saving, giving many low and middle-income workers access to a pension, with a contribution from their employer, for the first time in their lives.
We cannot stand by as life expectancy continues to rise dramatically while those saving in a pension fall into as rapid a decline. Automatic enrolment is necessary. It is good for the country and good for long-term growth.”
— Pensions Minister, November 2011