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Pensions & Retirement

Pensions UK publishes technical guidance to support Vote Reporting Template users

Caroline Escott said: “I’m delighted to see the launch of the Pensions UK technical guidance, which marks a significant step forward for our industry."

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Pensions UK publishes technical guidance to support Vote Reporting Template users
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Pensions UK has published technical guidance for the Vote Reporting Template to support asset owners and investment managers. 

The template, launched in March 2025 with the vote reporting group, was designed for standardising how asset owners collect voting information from their managers and aims to improve transparency and consistency in stewardship.

The new guidance explains each template field, sets out data expectations and formatting, and aims to make the template easier to use ahead of the 2025/26 reporting cycle. 

It has been shaped by industry feedback and aligns with the UK stewardship code and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) implementation statement requirements. 

It also takes into account the realities of vote reporting, including the use of third-party data vendors and proxy voting platforms. 

Zoe Alexander, executive director of policy and advocacy at Pensions UK, said: “Transparency and accountability matter most to asset owners when it comes to stewardship.

“By supporting consistent and high-quality disclosures, this guidance aims to ensure vote reporting becomes a more powerful tool for exercising shareholder rights and ensuring that the nation’s retirement savings are invested effectively and responsibly.”

Caroline Escott, co-chair of the Vote Reporting Group, said: “Voting, alongside thoughtful engagement, is a powerful stewardship tool. 

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“I’m therefore delighted to see the launch of the Pensions UK technical guidance, which marks a significant step forward for our industry. 

“The guidance was developed after extensive consultation across the voting ecosystem, ensuring it reflects a wide range of expertise and perspectives.”

Escott added: “By supporting managers to provide their pension scheme clients with timely and decision-useful information, this guidance will help asset managers to communicate clearly and consistently to their clients and, ultimately, vote in a way that supports good outcomes for scheme members.”

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Shipra Gupta, co-chair of the Vote Reporting Group, said: “The launch of the Pensions UK technical guidance marks an important milestone for our industry, reflecting a truly collaborative effort shaped by diverse voices across the voting ecosystem. 

“It provides practical support to asset managers by streamlining how voting activity is disclosed to clients, bringing together the FCA convened vote reporting group template launched earlier this year with the existing Pensions UK framework, to enhance consistency and clarity in reporting.”

Sacha Sadan, director of sustainable finance at the FCA, said: “The FCA welcomes the publication of this technical guidance to support the new Vote Reporting Template, which integrates the Vote Reporting Group’s template. 

“Voting is an important part of stewardship, and we encourage firms to adopt the template and use it to strengthen transparency and consistency across the investment chain.”

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