Everton Football Club has become the first Premier League club to sign up to the Living Pension, a voluntary savings standard launched by the Living Wage Foundation in March 2023.

The accreditation means all Everton staff will now receive a total annual pension contribution of at least £2,950, with a minimum employer contribution of £1,720.

The club has opted to meet the benchmark via the cash-based route, with contributions pro-rated for part-time staff.

The Living Pension aims to ensure workers can afford a decent standard of living in retirement. Employers can meet the standard through either a cash target of £2,800 or a 12 per cent contribution rate, including at least 7 per cent from the employer.

Commenting on the move, Everton said it was going beyond the statutory minimum to support long-term financial security for all staff, with contributions designed to help protect workers from poverty in later life.

Everton chief tax and people officer, Alison Haynes, said the club had “for many years” contributed well above auto-enrolment requirements.

“Now, with the support of our new owners, 777 Partners, we are able to take this further step to improve the lives in retirement of our valued colleagues,” she stated.

Echoing this, Living Wage Foundation director, Katherine Chapman, added that Everton were “leading the way” as a responsible employer.

“Just as the real Living Wage ensures workers can meet their everyday needs today, the Living Pension helps them plan for a retirement where they can live with dignity and security,” she said.

Everton joins a growing list of organisations accredited under the Living Pension standard, including Aviva, Phoenix Group, SSE, Wealthify and Herbert Smith Freehills, along with several small and medium-sized employers.

Although initially developed for defined contribution (DC) schemes, the standard was extended to defined benefit (DB) pensions in May, following a feasibility study conducted by Isio.

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