Pensions dashboards town hall: July 2025

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) hosted an invite-only pensions dashboards town hall event on Wednesday 9 July 2025.

Opened by the Minister for Pensions, Torsten Bell MP, the event featured strategic updates from MaPS, updates on connection and the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard, and interactive breakout sessions.

Download slides

Download the presentation slides

Download the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard breakout session slides

Agenda

9:30am - Arrivals/tea and coffee

10:00am - Welcome and housekeeping (Chris Curry)

10:05am - Opening address (Torsten Bell MP)

10:30am - MaPS strategic update (Oliver Morley)

10:45am - Programme update (Iain Patterson and Kim Webb)

11:10am - MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard update (Steven Corbett)

11:30am - Break

11:50am - The regulators' perspectives (Lucy Stone and Caroline Donellan)

12:15pm - Industry participants' view (Chris Connelly and David Poynton)

12:45pm - Lunch

2:00pm - Breakout sessions briefing (Chris Curry)

2:10pm - Breakout sessions (each session will be run twice)

MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard (20-25 minutes; 5-minute room transfer)
Consumer research discussion (20-25 minutes; 5-minute room transfer)

3:10pm - Break

3:20pm - Plenary/Slido Q&A session

3:50pm - Closing remarks (Chris Curry)

4:00pm - Close

Questions and answers

Find answers to some of the questions asked during the event.

Programme updates

What stages are industry participants at in their connection journeys?

As of the town hall (9 July 2025) 8 industry participants are connected. The remaining 12 are at different stages of the connection process, with the event slides demonstrating their current stage. In total, 14 industry participants have been through integration testing which is one of the most significant and time-intensive steps. Timelines vary by industry participant, but we are monitoring progress closely and more are expected to complete connection in the coming weeks.

Can you give an indication of timelines for private sector dashboards?

We want to start testing related to private sector dashboards but it is important to get the processes right. MaPS is considering indicative steps on testing towards the end of the year. MaPS is working with potential dashboard providers, DWP and the FCA on a pathway for development and implementation of private sector dashboards. Engagements are being planned and discussions are being considered through forums such as the Pensions Dashboards Advisory Group (PDAG).

How long will the pensions industry have to implement changes to standards?

This will depend on the nature of the changes and open conversations will be had to ensure appropriate notice is given. Changes to the value data requirements are part of the regulations set by DWP and are not set by MaPS.

Will there be guidance for schemes with fewer than 100 members who want to connect voluntarily?

Guidance for pension schemes applying to connect voluntarily has been published. Applications are not open yet, but MaPS is asking industry to provide feedback on interest in this to inform the process.

Consumer testing

Will consumer testing include personalised video explainer technology?

MaPS is looking into this and users have mentioned it as well. However, not all users want videos and we need to ensure video content is accessible and available in other formats.

How inclusive will content on dashboards be?

MaPS aims to make content simple, accessible and easy to understand, following existing guidelines on inclusivity and accessibility. Content will be produced with the needs of a wide variety of users in mind, including those with motor, sensory, cognitive, fluctuating and mental health needs. Testing with screen reader users will start once we have moved from the prototype to the live private beta testing.

How will the dashboard explain the difference between defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) pensions?

The design and content elements that distinguish DB pensions from DC pensions are being tested and iterated on. The pensions dashboard has an opportunity to inform users about the differences. For many users, the pension type is secondary to the goal of seeing what their income could be when they retire.

MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard

Will some pension types like AVCs not be supported by dashboards?

Some pension types such as additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) will not be supported on the dashboard in the first iteration of testing but will be added in future iterations. For the first phase of consumer testing, only DC, DB and State Pension information will be shown to users.

Users will be told if matches are made with additional pension types that are not yet supported, such as AVCs. However, no breakdown or further information on those pensions will be displayed, such as their provider or scheme name, type or value. More pension types will be supported as the dashboard develops.

When is the dashboards available point (DAP)?

The dashboards available point only applies to private sector dashboards, not the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard. This date will be decided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The Minister for Pensions, Torsten Bell MP, has confirmed DWP will provide 6 months’ notice before the launch of the state-provided MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard.

How will the MoneyHelper Pensions Dashboard be publicised when live?

MaPS is developing a communications plan looking towards public beta testing, when the dashboard will become widely available. It will be collaborative and we expect employers, pension providers and schemes to play a role in engagement with consumers.

Will costs and charges appear on pensions dashboards?

This is a decision for the government, as the legislation determines the scope of the data that must be sent to dashboards by pension providers and schemes. However, the consensus is to start small with necessary pension info that industry can provide, and we can build up from there. It is a priority to make that sure people understand this information and understand what to do with it, especially around costs.

Will there be a list of pension schemes not connected to dashboards for users?

This is a user experience consideration and we will explore questions around schemes that are not connected and what users do when they realise a pension is missing.

Speakers

Torsten Bell MP

Minister for Pensions, Department for Work and Pensions

Torsten Bell MP was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in HM Treasury and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Work and Pensions on 14 January 2025.

Oliver Morley

CEO, The Money and Pensions Service

Oliver Morley is CEO of the Money and Pensions Service and joined on 1 February 2024. Oliver brings a unique blend of private sector experience at Thomson Reuters, combined with a successful record of leadership as CEO of public sector organisations, including the Pension Protection Fund. Prior to this, he was the CEO of the DVLA, with services to over 45 million customers annually where he was awarded a CBE for digital transformation. Oliver is committed to seeing MaPS reach its full potential to deliver on its purpose “to help people, particularly those most in need, to make the most of their money and pensions.” His established relationship with key pensions industry stakeholders will support the team in delivering the Pensions Dashboards Programme, including the MoneyHelper dashboard.

Iain Patterson

Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), Pensions Dashboards Programme

Iain Patterson was appointed the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) at the Pensions Dashboards Programme on 17 April 2024 to lead activities in preperation to begin connecting industry to the dashboards ecosystem. Iain joined PDP from his role as Senior Strategic Technology Adviser in the Central Digital and Data Office, which is part of the Cabinet Office. He has held various high profile leadership and delivery roles in his career; from global and FTSE 100 companies, from utility sector through to aerospace and public sector. Iain has delivered some of the most complex initiatives In the public sector, such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Iain specialises in the impact of legacy on the digital economy and government digital agendas, and how to modernise whilst maintaining pace.

Kim Webb

Programme Director, Pensions Dashboards Programme

Kim is a career civil servant and has been a project delivery professional in DWP for over 20 years, successfully delivering policy-driven and organisational change projects and programmes to time, cost and quality standards. She first joined the Pensions Dashboards Programme in March 2023 as the DWP Reset Director and was then appointed by MaPS as the Programme Director in October 2023. This continuity has enabled the programme to progress through reset successfully and get back on course to achieve the strategic outcomes. Immediately before this, Kim led the Portfolio Management function in DWP providing assurance and monitoring risk and performance across the portfolio of 162 projects and programmes.

Steven Corbett

Chief Digital and Information Officer, Money and Pensions Service

Steven has over 20 years’ experience in IT and technology across a range of industries. He started in telecommunication R&D with BT, integrating technologies and building globally innovative solutions with companies in Europe and the US. Following that, he moved into freelance consulting within financial services and ultimately ended up running Aviva’s Life and Pensions IT and then their global automation transformation. Most recently, he joined the board of a scale up business in the facilities management sector as Chief Information Officer (CIO) creating and running new products and apps used by some of the biggest brands in the UK. He established new relationships with universities to recruit PhD and MSc graduates to create patent-pending hardware and platform solutions for reducing energy costs and improving environmental sustainability. The company was recognised with the Queens Award for Innovation and he was a winner in the CIO 100 Award.

Lucy Stone

Pensions Dashboards Lead, The Pensions Regulator

Lucy started working on pensions dashboards in 2017, inputting into the ABI’s prototype development. She led The Pensions Regulator’s input into the development of primary and secondary legislation, and now oversees the delivery of TPR’s programme of work – from guidance to communications, and industry engagement through to the implementation of processes for monitoring and regulating compliance. She is a regular speaker on dashboards and data at industry events.

Caroline Donellan

Technical Specialist, The Financial Conduct Authority

Caroline is a Technical Specialist in the Financial Conduct Authority’s policy function. She is the policy lead on the FCA’s pensions dashboard work, including the rules for pension providers connecting to dashboards and the regulatory framework for firms operating pensions dashboard services. In addition to 15 years’ experience of policy development across the FCA, Caroline brings insight and experience from working in a financial services compliance consultancy and in a consumer advice charity.

Chris Connelly

Chief Strategy Officer, Heywood Pensions Technologies

Chris has 30 years of experience in life and pensions administration, solution design, and proposition management. He has worked with public and private sector pensions, as well as life insurance companies. In 2022, his contributions to the pension industry through his work in PASA and MaPS were recognised by Pensions Age with the “Pensions Personality of the Year” award.

David Poynton

Product Manager, Equisoft/Pension Fusion

David has been working in the financial services industry for over 17 years, covering a wide range of operational and change roles. As a Product Manager, he is involved in supporting new and existing clients migrating onto his products, as well as consultancy work on ‘how’ his clients can improve their operational processes to guarantee better customer outcomes. Ensuring the products stay up to date with regulatory requirements, he continues to innovate as the market and technology evolves all while supporting clients through that journey. David has been involved with the Pensions Dashboards Programme as an Alpha/early participant since 2021, where you will often hear him in discussions, supporting PDP or their associated members, to ensure the correct processes are understood and adopted.

Chris Curry

Principal, Pensions Dashboards Programme

Chris Curry was appointed as Principal of the Pensions Dashboards Programme at the Money and Pensions Service in 2019, on a part-time basis. Chris brings valuable expertise and insight gained in his other role as the Director of the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI), where he continues to work part-time. Chris has worked on important projects, such as the Department for Work and Pensions Auto-Enrolment Review Advisory Group in 2017, where he was co-chair and led on providing advice on the theme of Contributions. At the PPI, Chris has authored and presented a number of research reports analysing pensions (including state, private and public sector pensions), pension reforms and other provision for retirement income.

Author:: Pensions Dashboards Programme

Published: 09 July 2025

Last updated: 22 July 2025