Agenda item

42.1     The Board considered an update on employer engagement activities and communication tasks that directly affect the East Sussex Pension Fund introduced by George Norval (GN); activities have included website improvements and branding revisions to written communications to members.

42.2     Stephanie Fernando (SF) drew the Board’s attention to the following:

1) Late payments were received from the same payroll officer in July and therefore training was provided.

2)  The Employer Engagement team are preparing to roll out a 3-part member training series. This will consist of:

1. Introduction to LGPS

2. Your Pension MOT

3. Preparing for Retirement.

Training sessions will be offered 3 times a year to all employers for their active members from January 2025, pre-recorded training will be recorded.

3)  In response to questions from the Board, officers confirmed that the team are focusing on the best approach and engagement and can be flexible with employers on the delivery to maximise employee attendance.

4) ZO asked if the courses were aimed at those close to retirement or for general information and officers confirmed that the first two are particularly relevant to all employees whilst the final session is more focused on those approaching retirement, employees do not need to attend all the sessions and can decide which would be most appropriate.

5) The Employer Forum will be held on 28 November and will be a virtual event. Next year the event will be in person following the March 2025 valuation. 37 Employers confirmed; another invite will go out ahead of the event and Board members will be invited. 

42.3     Paul Lindfield drew the Board’s attention to the following:

6)  The annual pensioner newsletter was issued in late September 2024. This edition reminded members about forthcoming changes to member self-service, where to go with tax queries, power of attorney and a host of other topics aimed at keeping members informed. Also included were non-LGPS related articles on Pension Credit and health in retirement.

7) An employer newsletter also went out; the website continues to be updated with relevant and engaging information for members and employers.

8)  The ESPF website had a new back end installed, by the host Heywoods, in mid-October 2024 which gives officers more information and they are reviewing the most recent website analytics data to understand specific searches by member demographic. This upgrade should result in improved performance, enhanced security, an improved content management experience and easier upgrades and maintenance. Officers have begun to review the most recent website analytics data to understand user journeys around the website, document downloads and page views etc.

9)  The Fund is due to issue the 2024 Member Survey by the end of the year. There will be a version for active and deferred members and one for pensioners. For the 2024 survey we will be able to analyse results by age group, which will provide us with data we haven’t had access to in the past. Going forwards we expect to change the frequency of issue so that members don’t end up with survey fatigue.

10) Member self-service website has gone live and it has gone reasonably well, however officers hope that there will be an increase in the number of members registering. The Fund will continue to promote MSS directly and will be looking to enlist the support of employers in helping to push the facilities. There has not been a reduction in website traffic and the Board noted that members do not necessarily have a need to visit the site very often.

11) Trevor Redmond (TR) asked if officers are working with the Trade Union officers to join up communications on this and officers confirmed that they would welcome this and have worked with the unions to contact ESCC staff about the self-service site.

42.4     The Board RESOLVED to note the report.