Protecting the interests of scheme members
The Standard Life Master Trust Co Ltd (SLMTC) was established to act as trustee and to work in the interests of members of the Standard Life Defined Contribution Master Trust and Stanplan A pension schemes.
The board of SLMTC consists of five members all of whom, including the chair, are independent of Standard Life and are fully accredited Trustees. They meet regularly throughout the year. Helen Dean is the chair of the SLMTC, has asked Standard Life to add the following comments:
“I am delighted and honoured to chair the board of SLMTC, this is a highly experienced board with trustees who are committed to looking after the interests of all of the members of the two schemes.”
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The board of SLMTC is here to:
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Ensure the safety of your savings
The board is responsible for ensuring that your pension savings are in a safe place. This doesn't mean that their value might not fall if investment markets do, but it does mean that they are protected against fraud, theft or the business failure of Standard Life.
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Consider what's in your financial interests
We will invest your savings, taking into account any investment decisions you have made. Where you don't make an investment decision we will invest your savings in the default investment option for your scheme. We will review the strategy and investment performance of the default and will consider your financial interests when making decisions in relation to the default.
We will consider whether the charges Standard Life are taking from your savings represent good value for services they deliver. If they do not, we will challenge Standard Life to improve value.
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Listen to you
We do want and value your feedback. We would like your views on your pension savings and the service you receive from Standard Life.
These views are an important part of the assessment of good value from Standard Life – we'll focus on all aspects of the plan across its lifetime to try and provide a good outcome in retirement.
If you have a complaint, this needs to be raised with Standard Life in the first instance. If this can't be resolved, Standard Life will refer the complaint to the board for consideration.
Standard Life DC Master Trust
Trustee's Report and Chair's Statement
By the end of July each year we will produce a report regarding how the scheme is performing in a number of areas, including:
- Our opinion on whether you are getting good value
- Information relating to charges and transaction costs
- How core financial transactions are processed
Master Trust Chair's Annual Statement.
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Costs and Charges - Illustrations
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment, Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (“the 2021 Regulations”) amend the Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration and Disclosure) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (“the 2018 Regulations”).
The regulations require disclosure and publication of the level of charges and transaction costs by trustees.
Please click on the following link to find out more information (PDF 1.065MB)
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Net Investment Returns
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment, Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (“the 2021 Regulations”) amend the Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration and Disclosure) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (“the 2018 Regulations”).
The guidance requires us to calculate and state the return on all available investments including the default investment arrangements and the self-select funds, net of transaction costs and charges.
Please click on the following links to find out more information
Stanplan A
Stanplan A Chair's Annual Statement.
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Costs and Charges - Illustrations
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment, Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (“the 2021 Regulations”) amend the Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration and Disclosure) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (“the 2018 Regulations”).
The regulations require disclosure and publication of the level of charges and transaction costs by trustees.
Please click on the following link to find out more information (PDF 1,384MB).
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Net Investment Returns
The Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration, Investment, Charges and Governance) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (“the 2021 Regulations”) amend the Occupational Pension Schemes (Administration and Disclosure) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (“the 2018 Regulations”).
The guidance requires us to calculate and state the return on all available investments including the default investment arrangements and the self-select funds, net of transaction costs and charges.
Please click on the following links to find out more information
Our SLMTC Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report
Following the introduction of climate-related reporting for our master trusts in October 2021, and together with Standard Life, we have made significant progress in implementing and embedding the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (‘TCFD’). We wanted to help clients understand the impact of climate-related risks and opportunities and define how these are measured and managed through the Standard Life master trust schemes.
The latest report covers the year ended December 2023 and has been prepared in accordance with the recommendations of the TCFD. Each report provides further insight on Governance, Scenario Analysis, Risks and Opportunities plus Metrics and targets. There is a version for both DC Master Trust and Stanplan A schemes.
Stewardship Policy Summary
The board of SLMTC (the board) believes that institutional investors bear a responsibility to engage with investee companies to drive better corporate behaviours, which is expected to also lead to stronger and more sustainable financial outcomes for our members.
This policy outlines our definition of stewardship and our commitment to support effective engagement and voting through outsourced activities in collaboration with our insurance provider Phoenix Group, asset managers and service providers.
We recognise our responsibility to hold Phoenix Group, asset managers and service providers to account for the stewardship activities conducted on our behalf.
Read our policy summary
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Statement of investment principles
The Statement of Investment principles prepared by the Standard Life Master Trust Co. Ltd (SLMTC), the trustees of the Standard Life Defined Contribution Master Trust and Stanplan A.
These statements detail the principles which govern the decisions about investments that enable the trust to meet requirements of:
- the Pensions Act 1995, as amended by the Pensions Act 2004
- the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations 2005 as amended by the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 and the Occupational Pension Schemes (Charges and Governance) Regulations 2015
Standard Life DC Master Trust Statement of investment principles
Standard Life DC Master Trust Statement of Investment Principles (PDF 140KB)
Stanplan A - Statement of investment principles.
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Independent audit assurance
The board of SLMTC is pleased to present its report detailing the control procedures that are in place for the Standard life DC Master Trust and the Standard Life Stanplan A scheme.
Internal controls for Standard Life Master Trust Schemes Report.
Internal controls for Standard Life Master Trust Schemes Report)
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If you have any feedback you can email the board directly, please take the time to do this. Your feedback is crucial to the board's success.
There is no guarantee that any email you send will be received or will not have been tampered with. You should not send personal details by email.
The board members are introduced below.
Meet the Board Members
Chair of Master Trust Board
Helen Dean
Helen Dean CBE, is one of the architects of auto enrolment, resulting in millions of UK workers saving into a pension for the first time. After studying Psychology Helen started her career at DWP where she developed the policy and legislation for the pension reforms that led to auto enrolment and the establishment of Nest. She then moved to Nest to set up the Nest pension, becoming its CEO from 2015, with rapid growth in members (2 million to over 12 million) and assets (£600 million to over £30 billion). Helen cares deeply about delivering great outcomes for savers through sustainable and responsible investment, connecting with the new cohort of savers generated by auto enrolment and about promoting diversity across our industry. She is a mentor to younger pensions and non-pensions professionals, offering guidance and coaching. Throughout her career Helen has maintained a passionate interest in addressing financial inequalities and promoting financial resilience across society. She is a Governor of the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) and a member of the HMT Asset Management Taskforce. She is also a Trustee and Board member of Step Change, the largest debt charity in the UK. Helen was awarded a CBE in the 2021 New Year Honours list for her services to pension saving. Helen is an accredited professional trustee with the Association of Professional Pension Trustees.
Independent Director
Gurmukh Hayre
Gurmukh is an Accredited Professional Independent Trustee with over 35 years’ experience in pensions and is an Associate member of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He has worked with two leading pension providers followed by more than 25 years in KPMG Pensions Consulting (now Isio) advising both corporate sponsors and trustee boards across defined contribution and defined benefit pension schemes. He has deep experience across all areas of pension scheme governance, risk management, investment strategy and member engagement. He is currently an independent trustee for three Centrica Pension Schemes, Cadburys Pension Fund and Chair of the Atos Retirement Plan. He has been a member of Aviva’s Independent Governance Committee and an independent trustee of the National Pension Trust prior to joining the Standard Life Master Trust Board.
In addition to his pension trustee roles, Gurmukh is Chair of Trustees for Molly Olly Wishes, a charity which supports terminally ill children and their families by granting wishes and other special projects involving children’s hospitals across the UK.
Independent Director
Catherine McKenna
Catherine is a partner at Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP, a global law firm. She has over 30 years’ experience in the pensions industry as a qualified solicitor, providing advice to companies, trustees and product providers on a wide range of pension issues and as a trustee and board member. She was the head of Squire Patton Boggs’ award winning pension team for a number of years, leading its approach to client service and responsible for its strategic direction. Catherine is actively involved in the development of pensions policy and regulation. She has been a member of the CBI’s Pension Panel and is an author of and contributor to pension books, numerous publications and responses to the Government’s consultations on pension change. She is a director of Squire Patton Boggs’ independent trustee company and an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute.
Independent Director
Andrew Davies
Andrew is an experienced strategist, marketer and business development professional. His career of over 35 years spans the breadth of Financial Services covering pensions, wealth management, life, healthcare and general insurance. Andrew has held a wide range of senior management positions. Most recently he was Director of Marketing Strategy & Customer Insight for AXA UK & Ireland during which he established their first customer centricity strategy. Whilst Head of Strategic Development for AXA Life, Andrew created the initial strategy, and was one of the founder members of the Elevate investment platform (now ABRDN Elevate). Andrew currently runs his own management consultancy business specialising in strategic change and business transformation as well as training and coaching senior managers. Andrew has qualified as a Chartered Insurer and Financial Planner in addition to holding separate professional Project, Process and Proposal Management qualifications and he is an Accredited Professional Trustee with the Pensions Management Institute. Andrew is also a board director for the Independent Governance Committee (IGC).
Independent Director
Caroline Escott
Caroline is a fully accredited professional pension trustee and has nearly 20 years’ experience in investment and stewardship. She leads the stewardship activities for one of the UK’s largest defined benefit pension funds, is Chair of the Investor Coalition for Equal Votes, Vice-Chair of the Global Investor Governance Network and has won several awards for her ESG and industry work. She was previously Senior Investment and Stewardship Lead at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) and Head of Public Policy at the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association.
Chair of Master Trust Board
Helen Dean
Helen Dean CBE, is one of the architects of auto enrolment, resulting in millions of UK workers saving into a pension for the first time. After studying Psychology Helen started her career at DWP where she developed the policy and legislation for the pension reforms that led to auto enrolment and the establishment of Nest. She then moved to Nest to set up the Nest pension, becoming its CEO from 2015, with rapid growth in members (2 million to over 12 million) and assets (£600 million to over £30 billion). Helen cares deeply about delivering great outcomes for savers through sustainable and responsible investment, connecting with the new cohort of savers generated by auto enrolment and about promoting diversity across our industry. She is a mentor to younger pensions and non-pensions professionals, offering guidance and coaching. Throughout her career Helen has maintained a passionate interest in addressing financial inequalities and promoting financial resilience across society. She is a Governor of the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) and a member of the HMT Asset Management Taskforce. She is also a Trustee and Board member of Step Change, the largest debt charity in the UK. Helen was awarded a CBE in the 2021 New Year Honours list for her services to pension saving. Helen is an accredited professional trustee with the Association of Professional Pension Trustees.
Independent Director
Gurmukh Hayre
Gurmukh is an Accredited Professional Independent Trustee with over 35 years’ experience in pensions and is an Associate member of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He has worked with two leading pension providers followed by more than 25 years in KPMG Pensions Consulting (now Isio) advising both corporate sponsors and trustee boards across defined contribution and defined benefit pension schemes. He has deep experience across all areas of pension scheme governance, risk management, investment strategy and member engagement. He is currently an independent trustee for three Centrica Pension Schemes, Cadburys Pension Fund and Chair of the Atos Retirement Plan. He has been a member of Aviva’s Independent Governance Committee and an independent trustee of the National Pension Trust prior to joining the Standard Life Master Trust Board.
In addition to his pension trustee roles, Gurmukh is Chair of Trustees for Molly Olly Wishes, a charity which supports terminally ill children and their families by granting wishes and other special projects involving children’s hospitals across the UK.
Independent Director
Catherine McKenna
Catherine is a partner at Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP, a global law firm. She has over 30 years’ experience in the pensions industry as a qualified solicitor, providing advice to companies, trustees and product providers on a wide range of pension issues and as a trustee and board member. She was the head of Squire Patton Boggs’ award winning pension team for a number of years, leading its approach to client service and responsible for its strategic direction. Catherine is actively involved in the development of pensions policy and regulation. She has been a member of the CBI’s Pension Panel and is an author of and contributor to pension books, numerous publications and responses to the Government’s consultations on pension change. She is a director of Squire Patton Boggs’ independent trustee company and an Associate of the Pensions Management Institute.
Independent Director
Andrew Davies
Andrew is an experienced strategist, marketer and business development professional. His career of over 35 years spans the breadth of Financial Services covering pensions, wealth management, life, healthcare and general insurance. Andrew has held a wide range of senior management positions. Most recently he was Director of Marketing Strategy & Customer Insight for AXA UK & Ireland during which he established their first customer centricity strategy. Whilst Head of Strategic Development for AXA Life, Andrew created the initial strategy, and was one of the founder members of the Elevate investment platform (now ABRDN Elevate). Andrew currently runs his own management consultancy business specialising in strategic change and business transformation as well as training and coaching senior managers. Andrew has qualified as a Chartered Insurer and Financial Planner in addition to holding separate professional Project, Process and Proposal Management qualifications and he is an Accredited Professional Trustee with the Pensions Management Institute. Andrew is also a board director for the Independent Governance Committee (IGC).
Independent Director
Caroline Escott
Caroline is a fully accredited professional pension trustee and has nearly 20 years’ experience in investment and stewardship. She leads the stewardship activities for one of the UK’s largest defined benefit pension funds, is Chair of the Investor Coalition for Equal Votes, Vice-Chair of the Global Investor Governance Network and has won several awards for her ESG and industry work. She was previously Senior Investment and Stewardship Lead at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) and Head of Public Policy at the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association.
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Standard Life Master Trust Co.Ltd. Privacy Policy (PDF 101KB)