UK Revives Pensions Commission to Tackle Savings Crisis

July 25, 2025 | Sustainable Investor

In a significant move to address the UK’s looming retirement savings shortfall, the government has relaunched the Pensions Commission, two decades after the original body laid the groundwork for auto-enrolment. This new iteration is tasked with confronting the deeper challenge of pension adequacy, amid data showing that younger generations risk receiving 8% less in private pension income than current retirees.

Chaired by a heavyweight trio Baroness Jeannie Drake, Sir Ian Cheshire, and Professor Nick Pearce—the Commission will deliver its final report in 2027, examining gaps in pension coverage and proposing reforms to boost long-term savings, particularly for under-served groups like the self-employed, ethnic minorities, and low earners. The scope explicitly excludes the state pension age and triple lock, which remain under separate statutory review.

Why It Matters for Institutional Asset Owners

The reactivation of the Commission signals a return to long-horizon policymaking in pensions, an area of growing interest for institutional investors, particularly DC asset managers and default strategy providers. It could unlock new capital flows via expanded auto-enrolment or mandatory contribution increases, while improving demographic engagement in workplace schemes.

For sustainable investors, the Commission’s likely focus on inequality, inclusion, and long-term outcomes aligns with broader ESG stewardship objectives. It also reopens the policy conversation around how pension systems allocate capital and how effectively that capital serves both member outcomes and real-economy sustainability.

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