Gareth Tancred: TAP is more than a training programme – it’s a gateway to higher professional standards
The Pensions Management Institute (PMI) has formally launched an expanded Trustee Accelerator Programme (TAP) in a bid to offer a comprehensive route into trusteeship for non-pension professionals.
The sector-wide initiative – originally developed as a pilot by Standard Life with the PMI to support individuals with little or no pensions experience – is now a comprehensive programme, one which aims to open pensions up to a wider, more diverse pool of talent.
The post-pilot phase of the initiative is sponsored by Standard Life Master Trust, Scottish Widows Master Trust, Aviva Master Trust and LifeSight and comes as the Department for Work and Pensions consults on improving the standards of pension scheme trusteeship, governance and administration.
The PMI said TAP is designed to meet the growing demand for skilled, confident, and representative trustees who can navigate the increasingly complex governance and regulatory landscape.
It said TAP combines expert-led training from the PMI, experienced trustees, and real-world board exposure to create a structured pathway into trusteeship.
It includes training, one-to-one mentoring, trustee board shadowing, and networking opportunities. Trainees benefit from nine virtual check-ins, six mentor-led sessions, and access to PMI's trustee and student networks.
The PMI said a dedicated TAP special interest group supports ongoing engagement, and a conference in September highlights the evolving role of trusteeship in today's pensions landscape.
The programme's first cohort of participants come from a diverse range of industries, including telecommunications, HR, finance resourcing, fashion and banking. They are about to finish their training and sit PMI qualification exams.
PMI chief executive Gareth Tancred said: "TAP is more than a training programme – it's a gateway to higher professional standards, launched at a time when government and regulators are rightly setting out tougher expectations.
"By equipping a new generation with the tools and confidence to serve as trustees, we're helping shape a future pensions industry that is resilient, inclusive, and fit for purpose."
The PMI said it would continue to evolve TAP by expanding employer partnerships, enhancing the depth of mentoring and board-shadowing opportunities, and introducing a more structured progression framework that supports trainees beyond completion and into active trusteeship roles.
Building diverse trustee talent
Commenting on TAP's launch, The Pensions Regulator director of trusteeship, administration and defined benefit supervision David Walmsley welcomed the initiative.
He said: "Trustees are the backbone of pension governance, and we are committed to driving up standards. Creating a confident pipeline of diverse, highly-skilled trustees – ready to navigate a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex environment – is essential to building a stronger future."
Standard Life head of master trust Donna Walsh said it was hard to imagine how transformational the original pilot would become.
She said: "It has changed the lives and career paths for many of our trainees, opened up the prospect of new opportunities and provided insight for existing trustees and their boards. The first cohort of trainees is on track to be trustee ready by June 2026.
"The industry response has also been overwhelmingly positive, and this is why I'm confident that, under the stewardship of the PMI, the enhanced TAP will be equally successful in diversifying and developing the trustee boards of the future to better serve all scheme members."
LifeSight head Jelena Croad said trustee boards made up of diverse backgrounds, experiences and expertise would make better decisions and generate better outcomes for members.
She added: "We are hugely supportive of the PMI's TAP programme to encourage, identify and train the next generation of pensions trustees. This will help drive standards of governance across the industry, ensure trustee boards are more representative of the members they serve, and ultimately lead to better member outcomes."
Aviva Master Trust head Louise Williamson agreed: "We're pleased to support this initiative which aims to improve access and diversity in the pensions industry. The Aviva Master Trust board looks forward to providing mentoring and offering its governance experience, complemented by PMI training, to help develop and support a growing pipeline of talent. It will also be a valuable opportunity to gain fresh perspectives from newcomers to the industry."
Scottish Widows master trust lead Sharon Bellingham was also positive. She said: "We're proud to support TAP and to work collaboratively across the industry to widen access to trusteeship and build a stronger, more diverse pipeline of future trustees. Greater diversity can only strengthen decision‑making and support good outcomes for savers."
Case studies
The power of the programme is summed up by trainees from the TAP pilot phase.
Tom Dibble said TAP had opened up a career-changing opportunity. He said: "I've experienced first-hand how great this programme is. I've discovered a real passion for pensions. It's brilliant that the PMI is scaling TAP up to diversify decision-making and make pensions more inclusive."
Priya Kainth added: "TAP has opened my eyes completely to pensions. It's given me another dimension, something new to think about in terms of my career. I'm really keen to be a trustee one day."
Dean Dennis agreed: "It's given me a real sense of urgency and purpose," he says. "Most people don't know what they don't know when it comes to pensions - and that's scary. TAP has helped me move from that bottom category to someone who can make a difference."
Full details of three TAP case studies can be found here.
Tom Dibble, Priya Kainth and Dean Dennis. Photos: PMI
