Everyone deserves to enjoy a good life in retirement. But many employees do not know how much money they will need or how to plan for it. Helping staff prepare for their future after work is something we all need to do: government, pension providers, policymakers and employers.
Campaigns like Pension Attention are making a difference. It helps employers and pension schemes engage with savers and helps employees understand their pensions with simple, clear messages and encourages them to review their savings and take action. But awareness alone is not enough, employees need support to take the next steps.
That is where employers and HR professionals can provide support to give their staff confidence. By sharing tools like Pensions UK’s Retirement Living Standards, they can help employees see what different retirement lifestyles cost. These tools explain what they might need for essentials like food, travel, heating, and even holidays to compare how their savings match up to their retirement goals.
The new Pension Schemes Bill going through Parliament offers further opportunities. It includes measures to improve value for money and encourage scheme consolidation to improve returns over the long-term.
In time, the long-awaited pensions dashboards will let employees view all their pension pots in one place, making it easier to see what they have and make a plan to achieve their desired retirement.
But legislation alone will not prepare employees; clear communication and ongoing support are vital.
Pensions UK’s 2030 Ready report, published in July 2025, highlights what more is needed: better guidance, easier ways to save, and stronger employer support. Simple actions like regular pension communications or workplace financial wellbeing programmes can boost employee confidence and engagement.
By working together, employers, government and industry, we can make sure more people feel ready for retirement and have the savings they need to enjoy it.
Zoe Alexander is director of policy and advocacy at Pensions UK
