Raising the Bar: TPR’s Call for Better Administration and Data Quality

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has renewed its call for trustees and administrators to strengthen pension scheme administration, with a particular focus on improving data quality. Following a year-long engagement with 15 pension administrators, TPR found that while some progress has been made, serious issues persist.

One of the biggest challenges remains poor-quality data. Administrators deal with incomplete or inaccurate member records that can be costly for schemes. Poor data can undermine the accuracy of calculations, valuations, and communications.

Encouragingly, TPR highlighted that modern technology now makes maintaining data quality more achievable than ever. New tools allow schemes to easily monitor and improve data quality continuously. TPR urged both parties to treat data management as a strategic priority rather than a back-office task.

Beyond data, the report also touched on systemic issues such as legacy technology, skills shortages, and the growing complexity of regulatory requirements. These factors make it even more important for schemes to ensure their data and administration processes are robust and future-ready.

For schemes, the implications are clear. Without strong data foundations, even the most advanced analytics, dashboards, and member engagement tools will fall short. Reliable data is the backbone of effective administration, accurate valuations, and trustworthy mortality and longevity modelling.

This is where MM supports schemes in transforming their administrative resilience. Through industry-leading data quality solutions, MM helps trustees and administrators validate and enrich their member data to the highest standards. By identifying and correcting anomalies, schemes can reduce cost and errors.

MM uses data science combined with advanced technology to deliver clear, measurable improvements in data integrity. This ensures that schemes are better equipped to meet TPR’s expectations, prepare for pensions dashboards, and deliver accurate communications and payments to members.

To act on TPR’s guidance, schemes should:

• Prioritise data governance at trustee level, ensuring ongoing oversight and accountability.
• Invest in modern tools that automate data validation and reduce manual effort.
• Collaborate across teams to create shared data standards and improvement plans.
• Engage trusted partners like MM to deliver long-term, sustainable data quality improvements.

TPR’s latest message reinforces what MM has long championed: data is the foundation of good pension governance. Clean, accurate, and accessible data is not just a regulatory requirement but a key driver of member trust and administrative efficiency.

Smith, S. (2025) ‘Collective industry effort needed to raise admin standards, TPR says’, Pensions Age. Available at: https://www.pensionsage.com/pa/TPR-urges-trustees-and-administrators-do-more-on-admin.php.