All employers must now automatically enrol eligible workers into a workplace pension scheme, and contribute to it. In many cases, employers will use a multi-employer pension scheme, sometimes called a “master trust”.
What is a multi-employer pension scheme?
Some employers offer their own workplace pension scheme, available just to that employer and its employees.
A multi-employer pension scheme is an ‘umbrella’ workplace pension scheme that can be accessed by different, unconnected, employers and their employees.
There are a number of large multi-employer schemes for employers and workers, including NEST, which is the workplace pension master trust set up by government.
Multi-employer pension scheme features
Different schemes will have different charges and different investment choices. Some may also restrict who can join and how much can be paid in each year. Your employer decides which multi-employer pension scheme it wants to use.
If you are an employee and you want to find out more information about your workplace pension, whether it’s a multi-employer pension scheme or not, you should speak to your employer.
If you are an employer looking to set up a new workplace pension or switch to another scheme, it’s a good idea to talk to a regulated financial adviser to help you with your choices. Financial advisers can also offer regulated financial advice, through the workplace, to employees.
You can find a financial adviser who offers advice on workplace pensions to employers and their employees on the Money Advice Retirement Adviser Directory.
This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.
