Datesforyour diaries... 6thNovember NationalPensionTracingDay 27November RegistertoattendourAnnual EmployersForum
Everythreeyears,weinvite employersoftheFundto participateinour EmployerSurvey.
Weusethisvaluable feedbacktomonitorhow wearedoingandhelp steerEmployertraining, communicationsand supportintheright direction.
Pleasehelpusbetter supportyouandtake5 minutestocompletethe survey. CLICKTOTAKE THESURVEY Thankyouforhelpingus continuetoimprove!
DEAREMPLOYERS,
WelcometotheQ32024newsletter!Atthe momentthereissomuchgoingonintheworld ofpensions!
Youmighthaveheardaboutthepensions review,whichiscurrentlytakingplace.Stage oneofthereviewwillcovertheLGPS,and althoughtherearealotofmixedmessages comingoutofthereview,thefocusseemsto beonconsolidation,tacklingperceived inefficienciesintheLGPS,anandencouraging moreinvestmentintheUK
Wehaveparticipatedinthisreviewtothefullest extentpossible Ihaveattendedthree roundtablemeetingswithministersandofficials fromMHCLGandtheTreasury,andthe Committeeapprovedaresponsetoacallfor evidenceaspartofthereview Atthese meetingsandinthecallforevidence,weare showcasinghowmuchpositiveworkweare doingalready,aswellasrepresentingthe interestsofourschemeemployers
Oneofourstrategicgoalsistomakesurethat yourcontributionratesareasstableand affordableaspossible Inordertomakethis successful,weneedtobeabletocontrolwhere ourinvestmentsaremade,soweneedtoavoid asituationwheretheGovernmentmandates investmentsintoUKinfrastructureprojects,as thecostofmakingupanyshortfallinthese investmentswouldultimatelyfalltoour employers
IthinkthatpointisbeingmadeverystronglyacrosstheLGPSatthe moment.Rightnow,wedon’tknowwhatthedirectionoftravelwillbe, orwhatchangesaregoingtobemadeasaresultofthereview,but wewillupdateyouasandwhenwefindoutmore
Wewouldliketoencourageanyonewhohasn’talreadydonesoto completeouremployersurvey,byCLICKINGHERE.Wereallywantto knowwhatyouthink,itwillbesohelpfulforusinplanninghowwecan deliverthebestservicepossibletoyou.
Wehadsomegoodnewsrecentlyandhavewonacoupleofawards! Wewontheawardfor“DiversityandInclusion”atthe2024LAPF InvestmentAwards.Thisawardrecognisestheprogresswehave madetoembeddiversityandinclusionatalllevels,coveringworkwe havedonewiththeteam,investments,customerserviceand governance.
Andatthe2024PensionsforPurposeawards,wewontheawardfor “BestBiodiversityStatement”,fortheworkdoneinourClimateand NatureReport2024explaininghowweareaddressingtheriskof biodiversitylossinourportfolios,alongwithsomecasestudiesto illustratewhereandhowweareexposed
Jennifer Devine HeadofWiltshirePensionFund
InvestmentNews
AsattheendofAugust2024thefundwasvaluedat£3.43bn,witha positiveinvestmentreturnforthelastyearof91% Thefundsglobal equitiesportfolioshavebeenakeydriverofthepositiveinvestment returnoverthisperiod.
Developmentsinartificialintelligence havedrivenstronggrowth,particularly inUStechstocks,asmarketsrespond favourablytoloweringinflationand lowercentralbankinterestrates. TheFundsdiversifiedinvestment strategyhasperformedwellduring marketvolatility.Wehavealso continuedtoimplementourlongterm investmentstrategy,with£119mpaidin commitmentstoprivateandlisted marketfunds
WearedelightedtosharethatOctopus AffordableHousinghasbeenselected asthefinalallocationinouraffordable housingportfolio.Findoutmoreinour AffordableHousingreport!
Cominguptheinvestmentteamwillbe carryingoutthetriennialinvestment strategyreviewalongwithsitevisitsto UKinvestments,updatesonthesewill bepublishedonournewspages.
Updates...
EMPLOYERFORUM
RETURNS!
Weareholdingourin-personAnnual EmployerForumonWednesday27th November2024attheTrowbridgeCivic Centre.
Joinusforadayfullofinformative sessions,guestspeakers,updates, trainingandmore!
MEETOURNEWINVESTMENT CONSULTANTS:REDINGTON
WearedelightedtobeworkingwithRedington,webelievetheirskills andapproachtoinvestmentsstronglyalignwiththeaspirationsand investmentgoalsofWiltshirePensionFund.Philosophicalalignment betweenassetownerssuchasWPFandtheirinvestmentadvisersand managersiscriticaltoensuringmeaningfulimpactandsustainability isembeddedateverystageoftheinvestmentprocess.Welook forwardtoworkingtogetherontheupcominginvestmentstrategy reviewandtheimplementationoftheFund'sresponsibleinvestment plan,particularlyregardinghowwewillinvestinnaturepositiveassets andcontinuetobuildonourUKimpact.
In other news...
OUR2023/24ANNUALREPORTISREADY KEYUPDATESANDINSIGHTS!
OurAnnualReportisyourall-in-oneguidecoveringourapproach, projects,events,howweareperforming,theimpactwearemakingand more!Packedwithvaluableinsights,casestudies,andabehind-thesceneslookatouroperations,thisreportshowcasesourvisionof deliveringanoutstandingservicetoourschemeemployersandmembers
WHATISINCLUDED?
Howarewedoing?
SchemeMemberandEmployerupdates ReportfromtheEmployerRep's FinancialHealthoftheFund InvestmentHighlights andmore!
TohelpmaketheinformationmoreaccessibleinadditiontotheFull Report,wehavecreatedthebelowonepagesummaryashorter HighlightsMagazine!
DuringPensionAwarenessWeek 2024,inadditiontothe5daily factsheetswecreateeachyearwe alsohostedarangeofevents acrosstheweektoconnectour memberswiththeirpensions!
Fromdropinsessionstowebinars, therewassomethingforeveryone, coveringarangeoftopicshoping todialupourmembersknowledge andprovidethemwiththetools theyneedtoplanforafinancially secureretirement
Takealookattheengagement ratesandfeedbackfromour members ��
Thisyearwewereabsolutelythrilled tobewinnersintwocategoriesatthe DGPublishing #LAPFInvestmentAwards2024!
�� LGPSPROMOTIONALINITIATIVEOF THEYEAR-Celebratingthiswinwith BorderstoCoastforthe#LGPSjobs campaignweworkedontogether.
�� DIVERSITYANDINCLUSION-For demonstratingourcommitmentin thisarea,withtangibleexamplesof howthisisfirmlyembeddedintoour culture.
Wewerealsothrilledtoofbeena winneratthePensionsforPurpose Awardswinning:
�� BESTBIODIVERSITYSTATEMENT-for theworkwehavedoneinourClimate andNatureReport2024
AswellashighlycommendedinBEST CLIMATECHANGEPOLICYandBEST PLACEBASEDIMPACT!
Reminders
AUTHORISEDCONTACTS
Hastherebeenachangeinyourteams? Visitourwebsitetocompleteourauthorised contactsformandifi-Connectaccessis alsorequiredthei-ConnectChange/New UserRequestForm.
OUTSOURCING
Weknowthisisabusytimeforacademies finishingofftheircurrentyear,andplanningfor thenextacademicyear.
Asareminder,pleasenotifyuspriortoany payrollchanges,TUPEs/transfers,re-tendersfor newcateringorcleaningcontracts.
Tobetterassistouremployers,wehavecreated agroupmailboxforouremployerrelationsteam
Employer.Relations@wiltshire.gov.uk
CHANGEINPOSTALADDRESS
maininTrowbridge,howeverasof laddresschangedto onFund, POBox2096, LIVINGSTON
LGPS Regulations and Guidance
USEFULLINKS
EmployerGuidesandVideos
Trainingrequests
Employerforms
LGPSEmployerbitesizetraining
