University DB schemes overspending on running costs and 'inefficiencies'

Spence research finds average running costs for university DB schemes was £700,000

Martin Richmond
clock • 3 min read
University DB schemes overspending on running costs and 'inefficiencies'

University defined benefit (DB) schemes may be overspending as much as £200,000 a year on “unnecessary” running costs and “inefficiencies”, research from Spence & Partners has shown.

The advisory firm surveyed 30 DB schemes for pre-1992 UK universities, which hold a combined £6.5bn in assets under management. The majority of the pension provision in universities is through mult...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Pensions

Become a Professional Pensions Lite Member today

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis and opinion from the industry
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our two daily news alerts
  • Hear from industry experts and other forward-thinking leaders

Are you a trustee, investment consultant or in-house pension and benefit scheme professional? You can apply for full complimentary access here

Join now

 

Already a Professional Pensions
member?

Login

More on Defined Benefit

Partner Insight: Behind the numbers - What defined benefit members really think

Partner Insight: Behind the numbers - What defined benefit members really think

Claire Altman, Managing Director – Pension Risk Transfer & Individual Retirement at Standard Life
clock 02 April 2026 • 5 min read
Partner Insight: DB Endgames and Surplus – A Strategic Crossroads for UK Schemes

Partner Insight: DB Endgames and Surplus – A Strategic Crossroads for UK Schemes

James Patten, Partner, UK DB Endgame Strategy Team and Lucy Barron, Partner, Head of Investment Endgame
clock 01 April 2026 • 3 min read
Partner Insight: Optimising your endgame - Choosing the right consolidation path for your scheme

Partner Insight: Optimising your endgame - Choosing the right consolidation path for your scheme

Exploring the range of consolidation paths and endgame options to help trustees and sponsors make confident, informed decisions about their scheme’s future.

David Lane, CEO @ TPT Retirement Solutions
clock 01 April 2026 • 2 min read
Trustpilot