Hello and welcome to this first episode of the Aptia Pensions Administration Pod for 2026. I'm John Wilson, head of pensions technical top tier, and I'm joined today by my colleague Terry Wharton, head of projects at Aptia, and Chris Curry, principal at the Pensions Dashboard, which is coordinating this huge and revolutionary project. We thought that with only eight months to go until the legal deadline for connection to the pensions dashboard ecosystems, that this would be a really good time to take stock in terms of progress being made and also the work still to be done. 

Terry, maybe I can turn to you first and give you the opportunity to comment on the act, your experience so far, but where are we at in terms of our journey? Since we last caught up with you and Chris regarding dashboard, we've made we've made huge progress, as up to around and with our client base. 

Last April, we were at the point where we were rolling out the final stage of stages of our I.T solution with sort of our own direct connection to the dashboard infrastructure via a data warehouse. And we were working through, testing with the Pensions Dashboard program. We actually were on the cusp of connecting several of our largest clients at that point in time, as well. 

And, and we were we were readying the estimated retirement income solution and calculations rolling forward to today, February 26th. Pleased to say that those early schemes were successfully connected. And we've continued at pace. We've now got over 100 schemes connected to the dashboard ecosystem, and that represents around half a million pension scheme members. So no mean feat in a small number of months. 

Much left to do, though, as we turn to supporting the medium and smaller, schemes. The app tier works with and I've got connection deadlines that run out to October this year. But in summary, great progress and we're looking forward to working towards a dashboard available point and and full go go live. A real milestone there going past the the 100 schemes mark. 

Chris, if I could turn to you maybe get an update as regards all the pension providers and the schemes and scope of the legislation. Firstly, Terry, congratulations on that. That really good progress over the past 12 months is it's really good to see, and I think testament to all the hard work that is going on, in here and around the rest of the industry, but I think a bit like but your experience, overall, we are continuing to make really strong, positive progress across all of the pension providers and the schemes in scope of the legislation. 

So, some of you will know that we've been working very closely with 20 industry participants. So these are pension providers, pension schemes, third party administrators. What we call ISPs or integrated service providers. And these are the groups who are providing the technical connections to the dashboard ecosystem, which is going to be used by just under 3000 pension schemes in total, those in scope of the legislation, and those are going to cover the vast majority of all that, the kind of pension scheme memberships in the UK. 

I'm delighted to say the kind of 18 of those participants, have actually completed their connection, as of now, in February 2026, which is brilliant. We have one still going through, working on that connection, but they're very close to the end and have been through the most technical part of the testing so far to get that connection, going. 

And we've got more, organizations showing an interesting connections and starting their own journey as well to help supplement the market going forward. In terms of what that means for who's connected. So, we began last April. And so was it ten months ago. We didn't have any pension scheme memberships connected. But the first one connected just in line with the the DWP staging timeline back in April. 

And by August of last year, we had 40 million pension scheme records connected. So end of December 25th and we had over 60 million workplace pension records, personal pension records connected, so hundreds of pension providers, and we think about three quarters of the total number of pension scheme memberships to be connected are now already connected, which is brilliant progress. 

On top of that, the state pension is connected and there's tens of millions of additional records there as well. So overall, we think the coverage across all of those in scope providers, it continues to expand, but we remain very much on track to meet the final regulatory deadline for all these schemes to have connected by the end of October 2026. 

That's really good news. And some impressive numbers there as well, it's great to hear that overall that things are on track and connection remains on course. But, you know, as we've alluded to in the run up to October 2026, the connection deadlines that schemes should have regard to will start to bite for the smaller scheme. 

So let's turn to today. Terry, if I could go to to you first from an up to your perspective, we have a lot of schemes in this core cohort and in particular challenges that you've come across. For smaller schemes, from a dashboard perspective, the way the program has been put together is to, is to stage them after the larger schemes. 

Actually our solution is tested across different schemes and benefit structures. We've got that bank of experience of working through some of the more complex schemes and, negotiations with, with trustees and fulfilling their requirements. And that experience, is effectively there for the benefit as we as we start to support smaller schemes more broadly in app tier. 

Equally the industry, the if you like the rising tide, the knowledge is increasing with every scheme that connects as well. So testing is completed. Practical experience has been built up not just by up to a bit advisers, providers, ISPs. As Chris mentioned, we've been learning, about how to interpret guidance responsibilities. In fact, there have been numerous, clarifying actions and, and, and, working groups, etc.. 

We understand the reporting obligations and that mutual sort of experience of working, with different schemes across different trustee firms, different solutions means that actually smaller schemes, should benefit from a lot of the activity that that has gone today. So in short, no, I don't see any particular kind of technical, issues for those smaller schemes. 

Smaller schemes of course, can sometimes be operated in a, in a sleepier manner, but from a dashboard technical perspective, I don't I don't foresee any particular challenges. Chris, does a lot of that resonate with you in terms of the dashboard universe? It does. Absolutely. And I think, I'd very much echo what Terry was saying. 

I think what we have been experiencing, is very much learning through doing. And so it was quite deliberate in the guidance time cycle that we set out the larger schemes. And probably some of the more complex schemes will go first. Partly because that helps us get coverage quickly in terms of the number of memberships, but also because those organizations who have the resources and the capabilities to manage that connection, in a better way, they can they can actually throw more at it, if I can put it that way. 

And we know that when we get into the small, medium sized schemes, they might have, more of a struggle, to be able to do that. But because we've been through the process a number of times now with the bigger schemes, we're finding it a bit more straightforward with the smaller medium size schemes. 

We've ironed out some of our processes. We've made sure, that actually the journey is getting easier with every month that we do as we go through it. So, it's really, really important that we've been able to help those more immediate schemes, do it in that way. It's really important, though, that the schemes that have yet to connect, haven't quite got to their guidance that yet, are still making sure they're putting the work in advance. 

That is also, I guess, one of the challenges, when you're towards the end of the staging timeline, it might seem like a long time until we get to. But actually, as I'm sure you can imagine, we're getting through things very quickly. It's hard to believe we're already kind of towards the end of February 2026. 

It's not long to go. For many more of those staging dates and for the ultimate deadline as well. So it's really important that people keep making that preparation happen, keep getting ready and keep in regular touch with us on the program, with the regulators and with organizations such as up to you handling the connections to make sure they know exactly what they need to do by the time they get there. ​

That's probably a really good segue for the next point that I wanted to raise. And that is that one perennial issue for us here. And I'm sure we're not alone. And it is on a minority of schemes. Is that the need to continually educate trustees and make them understand that dashboard connection and the provision of fine view and value data is not just a nice to have. 

Any particular messaging for that small number of schemes that are maybe still trying to kick the ball down the road a little bit edgy, you know, because they might think that buyout is on the horizon for them. I think as I was saying, a time is running out. Dashboards are coming. 

The connection period is already here, and we're already and testing with real users. So unless you are absolutely, 100% certain that you will not be running a scheme, that's within the, the regulatory boundaries. By the time you get to October 31st, 2026, you really need to be putting in place your processes and procedures for how you're going to be complying with the regulations by that particular point in time. 

So it's important that, that you have your connection in place, but it's also important that you're complying with everything else that's part of the regulations as well. So making sure that your data is accessible, making sure that it's up to date, and that you're matching criteria, is going to allow people to find their pensions, that you've got either valuations already in place or the mechanisms. 

You can carry out those valuations within the time period allowed in the regulation. So up to three days for a DC scheme, or up to ten days for a DB scheme. And you are confident that you can manage demand as and when it comes through. It's really important that nobody kind of takes this for granted or assumes that, because they think they want to do a buyout or a buy in or something that will, change the scope of the regulations for them. 

You need to be really, really certain it's not going to impact you. And if you're in any doubt, it's always worth speaking to the regulator who will be able to give you some good, clear guidance as to as to what you should be doing and when you need to be doing it by. 

Thanks, Chris. That that's really clear. And I think, Terry, that's something that we can use in our ongoing communications as we try to keep the dashboard momentum going, We have a number of schemes that were in discussion, around whether they might choose to pursue buyout or not. 

And for them that sort of messaging, that dashboard is not optional is very helpful for us. And, and the fact we can put them back to the regulator as administered as if, if schemes choose not to do the work with us or via rules, if you'd like to, to complete the connection and to get ready to be able to provide the values back to the dashboard and or the members accessing the dashboard in those, slides, the three days for these three or the ten days for Debbie that you mentioned, then the balancing item, if we had a reasonable number of schemes, if you like, who were who would, for want of a better phrase, played chicken with the connection or chicken with their readiness. It's the administrator that those carrying that risk. So we need a sort of practical and commercial protection around that situation as we as we work through the final few months towards October with schemes that are trying to to work out whether they are truly going to buy out and not need to connect or whether they are really just in a situation where they are considering or may not have a concrete buyout journey or target date. 

Let's take the opportunity to maybe look forward now. And because thoughts have started to turn towards life after the Money Helper dashboard with, of course, the launch of a consultation related to private sector dashboards. Chris, maybe you could say a little bit more about this and in particular, I think listeners would be interested to know whether there is still a demand out there for commercial dashboards after the government's decision that Money Helper should go first. 

Yeah, it's a really interesting area, actually. One that we are working on quite actively at the moment, as you say. So firstly, just to reiterate very clearly, although it was back in October 2024 that, the then Minister for pensions, announced that the Money Helper dashboard would be the first to launch, for a variety of reasons, mainly, I think because that as allow the dashboard or will allow a dashboard to appear sooner than if we were working on multiple dashboards at the same time, but also to give us a little bit more clarity, a little bit more control, and a little bit more certainty over what's going to happen and how that's going to impact on the customer as well. But at the same time, the minister also reiterated a very firm commitment to the existence of private sector dashboards. And it's something that we take very seriously in the program. And as you mentioned, we've just been running, a survey with organizations and stakeholders who are interested in private sector dashboards. 

It would be closed earlier in February. So we don't have too many findings from that to show at the moment. But I would say that there was very, very strong interest from, we had over 30 responses, to that consultation, which was really, really positive. And the vast majority of them were from organizations who are very interested in being part of the work that we're setting up. 

We're setting up a technical connection group, to work out how private sector dashboards will be connected into the ecosystem. And we're also, of course, working very closely with the FCA because the provision, of the private sector dashboard will be a regulated activity. And the FCA have been very clear, setting out the rules around, what you can and can't display on a private sector dashboard. 

We'll be augmenting those with our own design standards, which will be improving, as we go through the next few months with the results from consumer testing. So we know what actually works with consumers and how best to keep them safe in this in the dashboard environment. But also that we're doing, the authorization process as well. 

So we we're going to spend the next few months working with this small group, of interested parties to understand how are we going to do the connection, but also how that's going to lead on to the overall, progress, of private sector dashboards and how that authorization will work. And so when we're likely to see, private sector dashboards working alongside the money help a pensions dashboard, that's, I think that's really good news. 

For what it's worth, it's consistent with what we're hearing in our conversations with the Pensions Regulator, who was telling us, only last week that, prospective private sector dashboards who were speaking to the regulator, are still very much wanting to remain in the conversation going forward. So, it's good to hear, the experience, PDP is very similar to that of TPR. 

And we're and we're getting lots of interest from various different places, so some of them are, as you might expect, pension providers who already have some kind of presence, or digital portals or things like that, looking to, provide something which they think their customers will find useful. There's obviously those in the financial technology space who are looking, maybe to add something in pensions to what they already provide in other areas and bring pensions alongside some of the other, financial tools they have out there already. 

And there's also interest from organizations such as banks, who already have apps and are looking for something which their customers will value when they're looking at their other finances as well. So there's a whole range of different potential, types of organization out there who are interested in private sector dashboards. 

And we want to make really sure that we're working with a range of those so that when we do get the technical connection details in place, when we get the design standards ready, when we understand more about the authorization regime, that it's set up in a way that we can enable all of these different approaches to work through it. 

Again, another really positive message territory up to here is maybe a little unusual, and that we're using our own digital interface for connecting to schemes to dashboards as opposed to an internet service provider. Suppose we effectively have our own internal ISP. Is there anything to add on the prospect of multiple pension dashboards, or is this something we're largely just keeping a watching brief on for now. 

Our technical solution is certainly worth touching on for a moment. We considered the range of options for app to and our client base in terms of how we connect to the dashboard, ecosystem. We if you, if you'd like, developed our own solution and went down that path because it means we're the master of our own destiny. 

If dashboard requirements change, if we or our clients wanted to go in a different direction, potentially other dashboards. But even if, it was just a design change or technical change or everything is is within our control, we don't have to negotiate with a third party. We can or compete with other administration providers who might have contracts with the same ISP. 

We don't have to compete with them. We can make the changes. We can serve our clients, and we can ensure we comply with any different requirements or future developments. Within our own timetable. That's why we went down that solution. And in terms of multiple dashboards or commercial dashboards, it was interesting to listen to what Chris had to say. 

But what, up to I'd say were we for as long as the spirit of the dashboard program is sustained, which is members should be easily connected to their pensions in a way that has not been straightforward, in the UK or as or as good as the countries for many years, as long as that's the core objective and commercial best dashboards don't come across that, confuse members or mean that they are less likely to be connected with, multiple pensions from their, careers. Then, we don't particularly have a strong view either way. Jim. Okay. Thanks, Terry. Let's turn to some more practical issues now. So administrators are already considering the responsibilities for when dashboards go live. And their husband some really welcome clarifications around value data and in particular things like illustration dates and how recent benefit statements didn't need to be, and so on. 

Chris, from your perspective, have these clarifications and these workarounds. If I can call them, that impacted PDP standards and guidance, are there still some dark corners that need to be resolved, and are there any issues on which you think we might even require a little bit amending legislation? So there's certainly things that we are improving all the time as we go through. 

As I mentioned earlier, we're very much in a learning from doing phase. And so, as you'd expect, when we're doing testing with industry on the connection and when we're starting to see information come through, there's always things that we can pick up that we really maybe didn't think about or didn't come through as clearly as it could have done, in the standards, in the guidance. 

So there's things which, which are we working on, which you, I'm sure you've benefited from, already. there are clarifications. There are workarounds, that we've done. For example, one of the really early things we found was, there's some misunderstandings about some of the aspects for data standards, around some of the benefit illustrations. 

So we've very quickly gone back to, to industry, engage with them, ask for some views. And ultimately, in this case, what we did was publish additional guidance so we didn't have to go back to change the standards. But we've just published additional guidance to help clarify what's required. And hopefully that means that we can carry on. 

And as we say, for the next people going through that process, it's improved. They've got more information. So the chances of them being more of complying with the with the standards, as we were expecting hem to is, better each time we go through that. We're still in a period of testing though, so there will always be some issues to work through. 

And in particular, one of the things that we've been working on very hard and we're actually currently consulting, with participants on at the moment is about the reporting framework. And we know that we that will be, implemented later this year, but we're still taking some feedback as to the best way for that to operate, to make sure that it's done in a proportionate and pragmatic way, to make sure that it provides what it needs to provide, but does it in a way which is as efficient as possible going forward. 

So there will always be things, that we're looking at that will, be changing and amending. Our aim is to make that as straightforward as possible. And where we can, we'll do as much of that through guidance rather than through changing standards, because we know that changing standards, can mean, different things, something potentially slightly more difficult for, those connecting parties to work with. 

The most important, overarching aim is to make sure that the system works. That it's safe, that it's secure, and that it delivers what it needs to. So that's ultimately what we always keep in our mind when we're when we're looking at how things are going wrong in. Thanks, Chris and I, I did briefly mention there the prospect of dashboards going live. 

So let let's get the question you always get asked out of the way. I presume the position on the dashboard availability point is unchanged. Things are on track. We're going to get notice, and you know, with a prevailing when sometime next year. I mean, John, you're right. That's always the million dollar question, that, that always comes up and as you say the regulations are very clear that, the secretary of State for Work and Pensions will give six months notice before the money help dashboard goes live. 

And that was reiterated by, the pensions minister at our latest town hall event that we did just, towards the end of last year. That's the current position. Can I be any more certain or definite about things like that? Well, partly that depends on what happens in the next few months. One of the things that that's happening that the Money Helper pensions dashboard team are working on is testing with consumers. 

They're just starting to, move into a much larger phase of testing, with a much larger number of, of people, to look, not just a kind of is the connection working? Is the data coming through properly, but also some of these things like can individuals understand what they're seeing? Do they know where they can go next for help? 

Or do they know what they shouldn't be doing, which is just as important in all of these things? Because before the Secretary of State makes that announcement, there are a number of criteria that that need to be met. One is that we need to have good coverage. And as I've already mentioned, we went on the way to making sure that we get of the vast majority of pension scheme memberships available to be found, which is great. 

But what we also need to do is to ensure that the ecosystem is safe and secure. And so we need to make sure that we keep testing that, and I know we've got some specific issues, for example, cyber security testing to do to make sure that we're as resilient as we can be, in that space.

But we need to make sure that dashboards work for consumers and that they have a good, positive experience every time they use that. We're only going to know that once we get well into the testing. So when we make that, when the Secretary of State makes that announcement will depend quite heavily on what we find during testing. 

So, you're right, you will get six months notice. Hopefully the industry will be aware of the progress we're making, and we want to make sure that everyone is taken on this journey together. So when that announcement is made, it won't be a surprise. But I can't tell you at this point exactly when that's likely to be. 

Not as it's understandable. And, you know, be reassured to hear that all of us up to I agree that the success or failure of dashboard is going to turn on the consumer experience, after the DAP and maybe, on that note, Terry, what are up test plans for 2026, in terms of the schemes for providing connection and administration services to AI, what are we going to be doing over the remainder of the connection timetable? 

Absence focus days? Is starting to shift, John. So that's a good question. Obviously, as we discussed earlier, we've we need to support our remaining medium and smaller clients with the connections and readiness to the dashboard. Not saying those that that's done and dusted. There's lots of work yet to do on that between now and October, but our focus is shifting towards, as Chris mentioned, how do we make sure we, we comply with them, fulfill the reporting standards? 

I'm happy to say ABC was planning towards compliance with the reporting standards at March. The consultation, on the shift out to I think the target date for compliance has been moved out to November. Chris might correct me, but we're just working with our clients to understand whether there's a need for up to or to respond to that consultation. 

And as long as there's nothing significant that changes between March and November, we should be very much in good shape to support our clients and report to them. Our focus is very much shifting to though, supporting our clients with being ready to handle pensions dashboard in the business as usual sense. 

So we've got some of our earliest and largest, earliest connectors, which were our largest clients, coming round to having been connected for tools 12 months. So even if we, haven't got, widespread, public usage of the dashboards with were turning towards how do we ready those schemes to update estimated retirement income values in bulk en masse on an annual basis. 

How will we deal with member contact these new transaction types that as administrators, we need to turn around quickly. For example, ten days on a on a defined benefit. Here I request member queries, for example. Potentially I hope we don't get any but that won't be the case complaints etc.. So we will be looking at that operating model and solution for Bayview readiness. 

Chris, I could leave the sort of final comment with you. Do you have any final messages for schemes and scope, both of those already connected and of course, those that yet to connect and the run October to October. If I start with those yet to connect that I think we've touched on a little bit already. 

Just to say to them that the kind of get your preparation right, it's really essential that you're already starting to do what you need to do, and hopefully you're already a long way towards getting there as well. You need to focus on your connect by date. That's really important. And, and speak to, your connection, partner, if you have one in doing that. 

Also be very aware and in touch with the advice and guidance which is coming out from the regulators and from PDP as well. So stay on top of the regulatory responsibilities, but also look at what's happening around, because there might be things that you can pick up these will tips things to help you with that. We've learned from experience that we're trying to share out there as well. 

For those that already connected or glad to hear or very happy to hear what Terry was saying about the focus on making sure that that everyone is not just dashboard ready, but remains kind of a dashboard as business as usual. Because I think that's really important. There's been a lot of focus so far up onto how do we get ready for that connection. 

And now connection is here and has happened for many, it's almost like there's a step change now. So in the same way that I often like to talk about the pensions dashboard being the first step in the journey for, for a member. That's where they go to to find out their basic information on where to go to get more. 

I very much see where we are now as the first step in the journey for schemes and providers. So actually we're now going to be in a post dashboard world where you need to have everything ready, all the time. So your data, not just improved your data. You need to now maintain your data to make sure that future generations can find their pensions in just the same way. 

You need to make sure that you are improving and automating your systems so that as volumes increase, you're able to meet the turnaround times that you need to, and ultimately, there won't be a turnaround time because you'll have the information there. And that when we do get the uptake that we're expecting in member queries and wanting to find out more, that you're ready and willing and able to be able to deal with that, because it's really important the whole that the success of pensions dashboards is not just going to rest on. 

Have we produced an excellent money help, a pensions dashboard, which we undoubtedly will, but how does the industry respond to people using the dashboard? And can people find that additional information that they're looking for once they've used the dashboard? Because if they don't find that, then they're really not going to be that much better off than they were before. 

Although we've got a come an awfully long way, in the last 18 months or so, this is the start of something which we always, always need to focus on going forward. 

Yeah, absolutely. And a great message to, to end with, thank you, Chris. And thank you, Terry. That's it for this episode of the up to your pensions administration pot. Thank you for joining us. As we explore the latest on pension dashboards, remember that we do release podcasts on a regular basis, so be sure to subscribe on your preferred platform so you don't miss an episode. 

And finally, the usual caveats. The content provided in the podcast is, of course, for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. It should not be relied upon for any particular purpose. An expert advice should always be taken where required. Thank you again and goodbye.