From setting assumptions for pension accounting disclosures to the TPS and USS valuation results… This year-end, the agenda is packed with pensions hot topics for finance and HR teams.

Our 45-minute webinar – Pensions in education – What’s on the agenda this year-end? – will take place on Tuesday 11 August 2026 at 11am.

Our expert speakers – John Ingoe, Kate Hulme-Vickerstaff and Grace Coleman – will help you get to grips with your pensions position at year-end and how it may change in future, covering:

• Findings from our pension benchmarking study of higher education institutions
• Key issues for pension cost accounting disclosures as at 31 July 2026
• Results of the 2024 TPS and 2026 USS valuations – What do they mean for your institution?

There will be time for Q&A.

Under the Pensions Act 2004, trustees must demonstrate a sound awareness of investment principles. They should also be able to question and challenge investment advisers effectively.

In this one-day course, we cut through the jargon to give trustees a clear understanding of pension scheme investment.

Scheme trustees need knowledge and understanding of legal, financial and investment issues. This half-day course takes trustees through:

• The role and duties of the trustee
• Scheme governance
• Scheme funding.

The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) employer contribution rate is set to fall materially from April 2027.

This change, arising from the new SCAPE discount rate, will provide welcome relief to independent schools beleaguered by the mounting costs of staff pensions.

Our 45-minute webinar takes place on Wednesday 24th June at 10am. It’s aimed at pension decision-makers in independent schools.

In the webinar, pension specialists from First Actuarial will be joined by Adam McRae-Taylor, Senior Associate at Stone King LLP, to discuss:

• The SCAPE rate and other factors that impact the actuarial valuation
• How this will affect the TPS employer rate from April 2027
• Implications for TPS employers in the independent sector – what options are available?
• Legal factors for schools operating hybrid schemes
• Why the impact will vary according to your school’s pension strategy.

There will be time for Q&A.

A material fall in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) employer contribution rate is looking extremely likely, taking effect from April 2027.

This change, arising from the new SCAPE discount rate, will provide welcome relief to HE institutions facing financial challenges.

Our 45-minute webinar takes place on Wednesday 17th June at 11am. It’s aimed at pension decision-makers in the HE sector.

In the webinar, pension specialists from First Actuarial will be joined by Raj Jethwa, CEO of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), to cover:

• The SCAPE rate and other factors that impact the actuarial valuation
• How this will affect the TPS employer rate from April 2027
• What a lower employer rate means for future pension provision in the sector
• Why UCEA must keep campaigning for fair and flexible HE pensions
• Options available for employers.

There will be time for Q&A.

Under the Pensions Act 2004, trustees must demonstrate a sound awareness of investment principles. They should also be able to question and challenge investment advisers effectively.

In this half-day course, we cut through the jargon to give trustees a clear understanding of pension scheme investment.

Trustees and employers need to keep on top of developments in the Defined Contribution world and respond appropriately.

Our one-day Defined Contribution course – being held in central locations in London and Leeds – will help you comply with legislation and follow best practice at all times.

If you want to set up a new scheme, strengthen your scheme governance framework, update or simply improve your Defined Contribution knowledge, this course is designed for you.

What do changes in areas such as financial markets and life expectancy mean for your Defined Benefit pension cost accounting?

Our 45-minute pension cost accounting webinar takes place on Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 10am. It’s aimed at employers with a 31 March year-end.

In the webinar, our pension cost accounting specialists will discuss:

• Financial market developments over the past 12 months and what they mean for balance sheets
• The latest life expectancy data and how this may change the value of pension scheme liabilities
• Scope for flexibility when setting assumptions at year-end and why default assumptions may not always be appropriate
• What auditors are focusing on, including the Verity Trustee v Woods case.

Confirmed speakers are Caroline Parker, Jen Hodgson and John Ingoe, and there will be time for Q&A.