Employer Forum
Every year The East Sussex Pension Fund run an Employer Forum to help employers find out about the Fund, to meet key fund personnel and to understand some of the major pension issues that lie ahead.
Employer Forum 2025
East Sussex Pension Fund will be holding our 2025 Forum face-to-face. The day is a great opportunity to learn more about the how the Fund is run, understand your responsibilities as an employer, meet the team responsible for supporting you; with a free lunch thrown in!
Our Scheme actuary, Barnett Waddingham, will be presenting on the latest fund valuation. We also expect to be providing employers with a report detailing the estimated employer contributions payable for the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029.
The detail: 13th November 2025 / American Express Stadium, Village Way, Brighton, BN1 9BL / 9.30 am until approx. 2.30 pm.
You will find more information and details on how to register by clicking on the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1309779378379?aff=oddtdtcreator
Contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Employer Forum 2024
This year’s Employer Forum dedicated to supporting employers involved with the East Sussex Pension Fund was held virtually on the 28th of November.
The Forum was well attended and we thank all employers present for taking the time to attend.
The day comprised of a number of presentations on topics relating to the Local Government Pension Scheme. See agenda below. For any employers who couldn't attend, we will cover some of these topics in our next employer newsletter in the New Year. If anyone wants the slides for a specific presentation, please email:
Following the Forum we emailed all employers to let them know about the availability of member training from 2025 and asked for your support in promoting this with your employees. In addition we asked for your help in promoting 'My Pension', our new member self-service website.
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 10:00-10:15 |
Welcome and Employer Engagement update |
Steph Fernando and Matt Hunt |
| 10:15-10.30 | Pension Committee update | Councillor Gerard Fox (Chair of Pension Committee) |
| 10:30-10:45 | Pension Board update | Ray Martin (Chair of Pension Board) |
| 10:45-11:15 | Admissions and cessations | Dave Kellond - Compliance and Local Improvement Officer |
| 11:15-11:40 | Pensions administration update | Paul Punter - Head of Pensions Administration |
| 11:40-12:10 | Coummunications update | Paul Linfield (Pensions Communication Manager) |
| 12:10-12:45 | Lunch | |
| 12:45-13:30 | Triennial valuation 2025 | Barnett Waddingham (Fund actuary) |
| 13:30-14:15 | AVCs- new contribution portal | Prudential |
| 14:15-15:00 | Open Q&A | Fund representatives |
| 15:00 | Close |
Employer Forum 2023
This year’s Employer Forum was held at the Amex Stadium (the home of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club). The Forum is dedicated to supporting employers involved with the East Sussex Pension Fund.
The Forum was well attended and we thank all employers present for taking the time to attend.
The day comprised of a number of presentations on topics relating to the Local Government Pension Scheme. See agenda below. We will cover some of these topics in our December 2023 newsletter for any employers who couldn't attend. If anyone wants the slides for a specific presentation, please email:
| Time | Topic | Speaker |
| 09:00-09:30 | Registration - Coffee and Pastries | |
| 09:30-09:35 | Welcome | Tim Hillman (Engagement Manager) |
| 09:35-09:50 | Introduction and Update | Councillor Gerard Fox (Chair of Pension Committee) |
| 09:50-10:05 | Update from Board | Ray Martin (Chair of Pension Board) |
| 10:05-10:40 | Environmental Investment | Storebrand Asset Management |
| 10:40-11:00 | Pension Administration Update | Paul Punter (Pensions Administration Manager) |
| 11:00-11:10 | Coffee Break | |
| 11:10-11:30 | i-Connect Update | Paula Jenner (Engagement Officer) |
| 11:30-11:45 | Governance Update | Mike Burton (Governance Manager) |
| 11:45-12:15 | Barnett Waddingham | Fund Actuary |
| 12:15-12:35 | Communications Update | Paul Linfield (Communications Manager) |
| 12:35-13:00 | Training and Closing Remarks | Tim Hillman (Engagement Manager) |
| 13:00-13:30 | Lunch and Close |
Feedback was very positive, which is great news. Employers scored the overall Forum 8.55 out of 10.
On the day we asked employers to complete a survey. We will now analyse the results and see if any improvements can be made on the way we engage with employers.
Employer Forum 2022
The 2022 forum was dedicated to supporting employers involved with the East Sussex Pension Fund.
About this event
East Sussex Pension Fund were delighted to host the 2022 Employer Forum in person at the Amex Stadium - the home of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.
The Forum helped provide training and guidance relating to the Local Government Pension Scheme for employers. The feedback was very positive. The presentations that were delivered can be found below.
Fund update – Councillor Redstone (Pensions Committee)
Update from Chair -– Ray Martin (Chair of Pensions Board)
Valuation Update - Barnett Waddingham (Barry McKay)
Pensions administration – Paul Punter (Head of Pension Admin)
i-Connect - Paula Jenner (Pensions Engagement Officer)
LGPS 31 Forms - Dillon Piggott ( Accounts & Investment)
Ill Health Process – Robert Munro - Pensions Officer
Funding Strategy Statement – ESPF/Barnett Waddingham
Communications – Paul Linfield (Communication Manager)
Employer Training/Newsletters -Tim Hillman
Key tasks – (Pensions Administration/Julie Pelham/Jennie Shuttleworth)
Many thanks,
Employer Engagement Team - East Sussex Pension Fund
Employer Forum 2021
East Sussex Pension Fund held an online/virtual employer forum in November 2021 to provide information on relevant projects that may affect employers along with guest speakers, training and updates on current matters. Here employers can find the recording of this session
Please see the below titles for links to the relevant video sections from our Employer Forum 2021
Councillor Fox - Chair of Pension Committee
Ray Martin Chair of Pensions Board
Sian Kunert Pension Fund update
Julie Baillie & Karen Jamieson – Barnett Waddingham
George Latham - WHEB Investment Manager
Michael Burton - Compliance and Governance update
Paul Punter - Administration Manager Update
Izzy Widdowson - Engagement and Website update
Paula Jenner & Colin Lewis – I-Connect update
Dillon Piggott LGPs and Contributions Update
Employer Forum 2020
If anyone missed last year's Forum then a video of the forum can be found here: ANNUAL EMPLOYERS FORUM – EAST SUSSEX PENSION FUND FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2020, VIRTUAL EVENT - YouTube