Marvin OnumonuBenefits Guru has released its 2025 workplace pension and auto-enrolment ratings, marking the eleventh year of the annual report.
This year, nine providers and 18 propositions were included, as four firms – Cushon, Legal & General, Nest and People’s Pension – chose not to be benchmarked.
The analysis covered more than 12,500 data points and looked at 10 categories relevant to advisers and employers.
This year, new areas such as member artificial intelligence (AI) tools, goal based planning and guided retirement were included.
The ratings aim to make it easier for employers and advisers to compare pension providers.
The report added new benchmarks, including ‘Member AI Tools and Operating Efficiencies’ and ‘Value for Money & Member Outcomes’.
These looked at how providers use AI internally and externally, and how engaged members are with their pensions.
All providers received gold awards for individual and bulk pension transfers and auto-enrolment functionality.
However, only four providers achieved gold in the new ‘Life Events & Goal Based Planning’ category, showing this is an area where some providers did not perform as strongly.
Jason Green, chief commercial officer at Benefits Guru, said: “Our 2025 ratings reflect how providers are constantly developing and improving their offerings to ensure the best outcomes for their members.
“The overall standard is yet again very high, which reflects the number of gold awards this year, but it is important to look at subcategories because of the nuances that define the pensions market.
“We are pleased to introduce a number of new categories this year looking at the use of Member AI Tools, Goal Based Planning and Guided Retirement.”
Green added: “Following their success in the Financial Wellness ratings published in April, Standard Life’s Group Flexible Retirement Plan was the only offering provider to achieve a clean sweep of overall gold awards, and underlying gold awards in all sub-categories across both the Workplace Pension and Auto-Enrolment Ratings.”
In the 2025 overall workplace pension and auto-enrolment awards, Aegon received silver for its Master Trust and gold for TargetPlan GPP.
Aviva received gold for all three of its offerings: Workplace ARC, Designer, and My Money.
My Money Master Trust also achieved gold in both workplace pension and auto-enrolment.
Fidelity received gold for both Master Trust and Own Trust.
Hargreaves Lansdown’s WPP achieved gold in both categories.
Mercer was given gold for its Master Trust for both workplace pension and auto-enrolment.
Royal London’s GPP and Scottish Widows’ GSIPP, Master Trust and GFRP all received gold.
Standard Life achieved gold for DC Master Trust, Master Trust and GPP.
True Potential received bronze for Master Trust and gold for GPP.
