Why the pensions archive?

The history of occupational pensions within the United Kingdom has been a progressive development over very many years, to the increasing advantage of retiring employees. It has been hailed by successive governments, and by many others, at home and abroad, as a remarkable success story.

But mistakes have been made, too, and, especially in view of the problems which have occurred to pension schemes in recent years, it is very important that the means of learning from both the successes and the shortcomings, over past years and into the present day, should be maintained for all time.

As things stand, the diversity and sheer volume of the information involved makes this a near impossibility.  Also, there is unfortunately a real danger that much of the documentation of that history and its ongoing evolution will be lost, not least due to the takeovers of a number of employing companies and firms of advisors.

So our aim is to try to ensure that as much of this material as possible is gathered together through a Pensions Archive, which concerns all matters affecting the management and development of occupational and personal pensions, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Main Objectives

In that context, the main objectives are:

• To establish and maintain the Archive, in formats that will ensure both the security of valuable historical records and optimum accessibility to all interested parties;

• To advance of the education, both of the general public and those involved in the operation of such schemes.

The retention of material in its original form is important due for reasons of historic and evidential value. The Pensions Archive Trust (PAT) considers that hard copy access alone would seriously limit its value to the many categories of user, both throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. Conversion of key items into electronic format which can be accessible through a suitably formatted website, is seen as a key priority in the near future.

Chairman - Alan Herbert     Secretary - Chris Bedford     Archivist - Susan Gentles