Pensions Unpacked

Episode 1: What does the next decade hold for DB pensions?

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:31:18 GMT

With the majority of defined benefit schemes now in surplus, it might be tempting to think the hard work is done. But Brightwell’s DB 2036 – Out of the Woods? report suggests the sector is entering a far more complex second act, one defined not by recovery, but by choice.

As schemes weigh up decisions that will shape outcomes for decades to come, the paths forward are diverging. While smaller schemes may still favour buy‑out or consolidation, larger, well‑funded schemes are increasingly exploring run‑on as a way to retain control and unlock long‑term value. But running on brings its own challenges - from governance and investment strategy to risk and member expectations.

In the first episode of Pensions Unpacked series two, Georgie is joined by Julie Aspinall, UK Pensions Director at Unilever, one of the senior figures interviewed for the report, alongside Alex Truscott, Business Development Manager at Brightwell, to unpack what this new phase really means for schemes.

Read the full report here: DB 2036 Report :: Brightwell

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Episode 6: What can the UK pensions sector learn from international experience?

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 08:30:00 GMT

When it comes to pensions, Australia appears light years ahead. Universal, compulsory, preserved to retirement, and big professional funds investing for decades. It's caught the attention of policymakers here in the UK. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is eyeing consolidation and better value, taking cues from Australia as well as Canada and the Netherlands. But you can't copy and paste a pension system. So what can the UK sensibly borrow? What should we believe, and what does it mean for members?

In the final episode of Pensions Unpacked series one, Georgie is joined by Gregg McClymont, executive director of Public Affairs at IFM investors, and Denise Le Gal, a Canadian who's worked in the UK pensions and financial services industry for nearly 40 years.

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Episode 5: Looking ahead to COP 30

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Pensions Unpacked, Georgie Frost is joined by Lord Alok Sharma KCMG PC to discuss the achievements of COP 26, the current direction of travel when it comes to global climate action and his hopes for COP 30.

As COP 30 in Belem approaches, the politics of climate and finance are shifting at home and abroad. The UK can point to sharp emissions cuts, even as momentum builds to roll back green rules. In the US, the policy direction is even less certain. Against that backdrop, what does transition finance look like in practice, and what is the role for long term pension capital?

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Episode 4: Why is pension administration stuck in the past and what needs to change?

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Pension administration is seen as the unglamorous side of the industry. Yet it's critical to how schemes run and how members experience their retirement. As expectations rise and risks multiply, the pressure to modernise has never been greater. So how do we move administration from back-office function to genuine driver of value?

In this edition of Pensions Unpacked, David Fairs, Chair, PASA, Helen Sparke, administration expert at Procentia, and Brightwell’s David Cheetham, join Georgie Frost to talk about the forces changing UK pension administration.

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Episode 3: Pensions Unpacked podcast live: UK DB landscape – where are we now & where are we going?

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:33:51 GMT

Once the cornerstone of retirement, most DB schemes are now closed - yet they still hold over £1.4 trillion in assets and remain vital for millions of members and the wider economy.

And with new rules on surplus set to take effect from 2027, schemes and sponsors face fresh choices about whether to buy out or keep running on.

In this special live edition of Pensions Unpacked, Ian Mills, Head of DB Endgame Strategy at Barnett Waddingham, and Morten Nilsson, CEO at Brightwell, talk to Georgie Frost about the state of the UK’s defined benefit pensions.

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Episode 2: Pensions and the politics of investment

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 08:20:32 GMT

The government's recent plans for pension schemes to help support UK economic growth raise important questions about economic strategy, fiduciary duty, and the evolving role of pensions in supporting national interests.

Matt Cavanagh, Senior Counsel H/AdvisorsCicero and Amy Mankelow from Brightwell talk to Georgie Frost about whether these plans are genuine win-win, or a case of political overreach.

Find out more about Brightwell here.

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Episode 1: How can we make the most of longer lives

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:04:27 GMT

Life expectancy in the UK has gone up but the number of years we spend in good health hasn’t kept pace. David Sinclair, Chief Executive of the International Longevity Centre UK and Amy Mankelow from Brightwell talk to Georgie Frost about the implications of longer lives, how we can age well and why rethinking retirement is more urgent than ever.

Find the report: The future of ageing in an uncertain world here

Find out more about the International Longevity Centre UK here

Find out more about Brightwell here.

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