13/08/2025
Hertfordshire Pension Fund identifies Border to Coast Pensions Partnership as preferred pooling partner
On 7 July 2025, the Hertfordshire Pension Committee confirmed Border to Coast Pensions Partnership as its preferred FCA-authorised pooling partner. This decision aligns Hertfordshire Pension Fund (the Fund) with six other Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) funds—Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Northamptonshire, and West Sussex—that have also identified Border to Coast as their preferred partner. Established in 2018, Border to Coast is one of the UK’s largest LGPS Asset Pools. Its mission is to deliver cost-effective, innovative, and responsible investment opportunities that generate long-term returns.
Pooling is a key component of the Government’s LGPS reform agenda, aimed at reducing costs and enhancing investment performance. Since 2016, the Fund has participated in the ACCESS Pool but the Government has now set further key reforms to require that the management of pension fund assets is delegated to an FCA-authorised and regulated investment pool (the Government’s Fit for the Future policy). These changes do not affect LGPS members’ benefits, which remain protected by law.
“Having been in discussion with a number of different pools over the last few months, and whilst going through further discussions and due diligence, our preferred pool is Border to Coast and we have entered exclusive discussion with them. It is intended to make a recommendation to our Pensions Committee at the end of September, and then to Full Council in October. We feel Border to Coast offers a strong governance framework and a collaborative approach that mirrors the equal partnership we valued at Hertfordshire Council, and valued also at ACCESS. Border to Coast’s proven track record gives us confidence in a smooth transition and continued excellence in service delivery”.
- Councillor Tim Williams, chair of the Hertfordshire Pension’s Committee
Whilst further work remains to meet the Government’s policy, the decision marks a significant milestone for the Fund ahead of the deadline from government to transition assets to the new asset pool by 31 March 2026.