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Pension Funding in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Joseph Maher Joseph Maher London, United Kingdom Last Updated: October 2024 SIC K65.300

Revenue

£XX.Xbn

2024-25

£125.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xbn

Employees

XX,XXX

Businesses

X,XXX

Wages

£XX.Xbn

Pension Funding in the UK industry analysis

Pension funds are undergoing a period of change. The past decade has marked a shift from defined benefit (DB) to defined contribution (DC) schemes dominating the industry, due to the financial burden DB schemes place on employers. Growing longevity risk, stemming from rising life expectancy has also been a contributing factor. Revenue is expected to fall by 8.5% over the five years through 2024-25 to £125 billion, including estimated growth of 3.1% in 2024-25, while the average industry profit margin is anticipated to be 32%.

Trends and Insights

  • A higher base rate aids interest income. Fixed-income makes up the bulk of pension scheme assets, more specifically, the coupon income earnt from bonds. Higher interest rates will ramp up in investment income and support revenue growth in the coming years.
  • Defined contribution schemes dominate. More and more companies are moving away from defined benefit to defined contribution pension schemes to cut costs and minimise risk.
  • London is the UK's epicentre for pension funds. Its prominent financial position attracts top-tier investment managers and insurers, while the city's population density appeals to most UK pension members.
  • Pension funds focus on returns, offerings and compliance. They strive to optimise investment returns, diversify pension schemes and rigorously follow regulations to outperform competitors and appeal to potential investors.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of XX.X% over the past five years, to reach an estimated £XX.Xbn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The anticipated end of interest rate hikes spurs investment markets

  • Going into 2023-24, capital markets looked shaky, with central banks like the Fed and Bank of England raising rates and investors bracing for a potential recession, hurting investment income and contributing to revenue dropping by 9.4%. Yet, capital inflows towards stock and bond markets skyrocketed at the end of the year, inciting a two-month rally, as investors anticipated the end of interest rate hikes.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Pension Funding in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Higher interest rates trigger a shift to funding surpluses

  • In the higher interest rate environment, many schemes are moving from deficit to surplus due to a lower present value of liabilities and higher bond yields driving investment income. A pension surplus allows for lower employer contributions, supporting profit.

Biggest companies in the Pension Funding in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (£short_0)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Pension Funding in the UK industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Pension Funding in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Defined benefit schemes and Defined contribution schemes. Defined benefit schemes is the largest segment of the Pension Funding in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Defined contribution schemes' low costs prove enticing for employers

  • Defined contribution (DC) schemes are pension arrangements where an employee and employer will pay into a pot – the final amount varies depending on total contributions and the scheme's investment performance.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Pension Funding industry provides retirement benefits for people no longer earning an income. The industry includes both occupational and personal pension schemes. State pensions are excluded from this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Defined benefit schemesDefined contribution schemes

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

DEFINED BENEFIT SCHEMEDEFINED CONTRIBUTION SCHEMEBENEFITCONTRIBUTIONASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT (AUM)

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 65.30 - Pension Funding in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

A higher base rate aids interest income. Fixed-income makes up the bulk of pension scheme assets, more specifically, the coupon income earnt from bonds. Higher interest rates...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Defined contribution schemes dominate. More and more companies are moving away from defined benefit to defined contribution pension schemes to cut costs and minimise risk.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London is the UK's epicentre for pension funds. Its prominent financial position attracts top-tier investment managers and insurers, while the city's population density appea...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Pension funds focus on returns, offerings and compliance. They strive to optimise investment returns, diversify pension schemes and rigorously follow regulations to outperfor...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

No one pension fund dominates the market. Automatic enrolment has further fragmented the industry by increasing the size of smaller funds, offsetting the gains made by the la...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    The Pension Schemes Act can regularly change. It consolidates all the regulation related to pension funds into one document, which is regularly updated with new requirements.

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Higher rates lift profit. Healthier coupon income amid the higher base rate environment will aid investment income in 2024-25, widening the average industry profit margin.

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
    • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
    • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
    • Assets (2018-2022)
    • Liabilities (2018-2022)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Pension Funding in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

    The market size of the Pension Funding in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £XX.Xbn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Pension Funding in the UK industry in 2024?

    There are £XX.Xbn businesses in the Pension Funding in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of XX.X% between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Pension Funding in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Pension Funding in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been stable at a CAGR of XX.X% between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Pension Funding in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Pension Funding in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to remain static.

    What does the Pension Funding in the UK in United Kingdom include?

    Defined benefit schemes and Defined contribution schemes are part of the Pension Funding in the UK industry.

    How competitive is the Pension Funding in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the Pension Funding in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Competitors

    • Investment Trusts in the UK
    • Property Unit Trusts in the UK
    • Life Insurance in the UK
    • Fund Management Activities in the UK

    Complementors

    • There are no industries to display.

    International industries

    • Global Pension Funds
    • Retirement & Pension Plans in the US
    • Superannuation Funds in Australia
    • Superannuation Funds in New Zealand
    • Pension Funding in Ireland

    View all industries in United Kingdom

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in the UK include:

    • Office for National Statistics
    • Office for Budget Responsibility
    • Bank of England

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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