A lot has been written about how to achieve good outcomes for members of defined benefit (DB) pension schemes. A strong employer covenant, well-managed investments...
Read article “Good administration, the backbone of pensions”5 minutes

Today (28 January) the government announced that it will introduce new legislation to make it easier for employers to access surplus within their defined benefit (DB) pension schemes.
Commenting on the announcement, Morten Nilsson, CEO, Brightwell said: “Current legislation has employers wholly owning the downside of their DB pension schemes but gives no access to the upside.
“This reform could fundamentally change the way some employers view their DB pension schemes, turning them into valuable assets to nurture.
“Industry wide, we could see increasing numbers of employers opting to run-on their DB pension schemes for the long-term.
“Having mutual agreement on any surplus release between trustee and employer is key, enabling them to work together to deliver good outcomes.
“Done carefully, we believe these changes will benefit employers and members and also support the UK economy.”

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In this edition we celebrate our reaccreditation to PASA for Excellence in Pension Administration, Chris Threadgold explores outsourcing scheme services, and we release a special live edition of Pensions Unpacked, with Ian Mills, Head of DB Endgame Strategy at Barnett Waddingham, Morten Nilsson, CEO at Brightwell, and financial journalist Georgie Frost.
Find out more about “Bright Insight – Q3 2025”08/10/2025
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 future of the UK’s defined benefit pensions sector.
Find out more about “Pensions Unpacked Live Episode 3: UK DB landscape – where are we now & where are we going?”08/10/2025
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