Maritime pensions made simpler

The specialist maritime pensions provider Ensign has launched a new website as part of a programme to make it easier for employees and employers to understand their retirement options.

Ensign – which provides a high-quality defined contribution pension scheme for the maritime industry – says it is overhauling its communications in a bid to change the way pensions are perceived and to boost levels of member and employer understanding and engagement.

The new website uses plain language, cuts out jargon and uses easy to understand articles, FAQs and engaging animation and graphics – with the aim of creating 'a place where any member or employer, regardless of industry, can go to better understand saving for their future'.

A recent Ensign survey of workers in the shipping and maritime industry revealed that while four out of five employees saw workplace pensions as 'very important', only 42% know how much they are paying into their pension; only one in three know what they need for a decent retirement, and over half (54%) have no idea, or have forgotten, how much they are paying in fees and charges.

Ensign chair Rory Murphy said: 'While automatic-enrolment (AE) has created millions of new pension savers, it can only be considered a success if this is converted into decent retirement outcomes. Pensions schemes have a critical role to play in achieving this, and we are determined that Ensign should be at the leading edge of shaping a successful future for all pensions schemes and their members.

'As in other areas of the economy, the impetus for innovation in pensions can come from smaller, more agile entities. Ensign is already delivering high-quality, low-cost pension provision, but we want to ensure members and employers alike feel part of, and engaged with, that process.

'For too long, people have been turned off by pensions,' he added. 'It is their money, and their financial wellbeing that is at stake here. We want the new look we have announced today to be a first step towards developing, implementing and spreading best practice. We want the maritime industry to be leading the way for all other pension schemes to follow.'

So far this year, Ensign has already reduced its annual management charges, and moved towards in-scheme drawdown arrangements and retirement advice.