Benefits Guru Workplace Pension Rating 2025
We are delighted to congratulate Royal London on their outstanding performance in the Benefits Guru Workplace Pension and Auto-Enrolment Ratings 2025.
Achieving an ‘Overall Gold’ award is a testament to their continued commitment to delivering exceptional value, innovation, and service within the workplace pensions market. Their excellence across digital engagement, guided retirement, and value for money places Royal London among the top-tier providers setting the benchmark for pension provision in the UK.
The 2025 ratings reflect a rigorous analysis of over 12,500 data points across 18 propositions and 10 key categories. Royal London’s success highlights their ability to evolve and respond to the changing needs of members and advisers alike, with a clear focus on improving outcomes for pension savers nationwide.
Default Investment & ESG Strategy:
Royal London offers a range of investment funds on their platform, including their own funds, life-styling, multi-manager, fund-of-funds, ethical, ESG, and sustainable funds. Fund fact sheets are updated monthly. They provide several default investment options for members, which can be tailored by advisers, and offer free unlimited online fund switching. The core default fund for auto-enrolment is the Balanced Lifestyle Strategy (Drawdown), which is invested in three risk-targeted Governed Portfolios within the Royal London Governed Range. This strategy has been designed to gradually reduce investment risk as members approach retirement. Royal London are committed to acting and investing responsibly and integrate (ESG) factors into their investment processes.
Support Services:
Royal London provides excellent support services for both advisers and employers. This includes a comprehensive implementation hub and portal that tracks the setup process, issuing alerts when actions are required. Dedicated teams are available to assist with scheme setup, transfers, new joiners, and leavers, ensuring smooth transitions. They offer multiple channels for support, including call centres, web-based, and online services, alongside full training for all parties involved. The system implementation process is typically completed within one to two months, depending on the scheme, and is overseen by a dedicated implementation manager. Employee Engagement Consultants and Client Relationship Managers are also available for schemes requiring enhanced support.
Member App & Portal:
Royal London offers both a member portal and a native mobile app, now with transactional capabilities. The app Royal London provides a member portal and mobile app with transactional features. Members can make single premium payments, transfer pensions from other providers, update beneficiaries, change their address, and view ProfitShare awards. Both platforms offer educational tools and calculators to support pension management. The Financial Wellbeing Service is also available, offering personalised guidance on saving, managing debt, and retirement planning.
Digital, Blended & Guided Retirement:
Royal London’s guided retirement solution supports mass-market non-advised members with a blend of flexible drawdown and guaranteed income. It features automated income modelling, longevity risk tools, sustainability charts, FCA-aligned guidance, and personalised nudges. Members also benefit from digital support including tailored guides and videos, a benefits calculator, financial planning tools, and a retirement options tool to estimate income and explore choices.
Auto-Enrolment Functionality:
Royal London has a fully automated Auto Enrolment (AE) process in place to address the needs of all employers. This includes automated systems to manage transient workers, the ability to convert existing schemes into qualifying schemes, and a range of tools and services to assist advisers and employers with scheme assessment and member categorisation. Royal London can also support all payroll frequencies, multiple PAYEs, and payrolls, and can provide reports on alternative approaches to achieving AE compliance.
Life Events and Goal Based Planning:
Royal London supports members through a wide range of life events, including buying a home, getting married, starting a family, changing jobs, facing redundancy, and planning for later-life care. Members can set personalised financial goals with target amounts and access educational content tailored to their life stage. The platform also provides automated contribution suggestions and guidance to help members stay on track.
Salary Exchange Support:
Royal London offers a comprehensive Salary Exchange tool for employers, employees, and advisers. It includes both online and spreadsheet-based calculators, mobile access, and integration into portals. The platform supports fixed and percentage-based contributions, bonus exchange, and provides extensive guidance materials. Automated checks and alerts help safeguard against National Minimum Wage breaches, and re-enrolment support is built in.
Individual & Bulk Pension Transfers:
Royal London operates a fully automated system for restructuring existing pension schemes onto a new platform, with any differences between the old and new products confirmed in writing. There is no minimum transfer requirement, and most transfers are completed using the Origo Standard. Transfer tracking is manually managed by the customer support team, and Royal London accepts electronic signatures for pension transfers. The transfer process has been improved and streamlined over the past year.
Value for Money & Member Outcomes:
Royal London demonstrates growing digital engagement, with a good proportion of workplace pension members regularly logging in and using online tools. Member activity is strong, with many contributing above the statutory minimum and actively consolidating pensions. The platform enables segmentation by retirement readiness, targeted communications, and proactive support for vulnerable customers. Digital completion rates for death benefit nominations are particularly high.
Member AI Tools & Operating Efficiencies:
Royal London makes broad use of AI across its workplace pension operations, supporting efficiencies and improved member outcomes. Applications include a range of operational efficiencies and member-focused enhancements, supported by AI-driven processes across the business. The platform enables proactive identification of vulnerable customers, vulnerabilities, personalised communications, and adviser-facing tools. A dedicated analytics team and a robust governance framework underpin the responsible use of AI across the business.
Our annual ratings are designed to assist advisers, providers and employers in their decision-making process and highlight which providers have the greatest strengths in different areas of their pension propositions.
To view the full medals tables, all the awards and the accompanying provider factsheets please visit www.benefitsguru.co.uk/ratings/