As we head toward the end of the month, the pensions world is showing no signs of slowing down - if anything, it’s been another week packed with big news and bold moves.

The first is the government giving the green light to regulations for multi-employer collective defined contribution (CDC) pension schemes.

The move was hailed by many as a “seminal moment" for pensions, although experts have been quick to warn that success will come down to getting the design right, ensuring things stay fair, and communicating clearly with members.

LCP also weighed in this week with research suggesting that both defined contribution (DC) and CDC schemes will play a “crucial role” in helping the next generation meet their retirement goals.

Elsewhere, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) confirmed it’s planning to strengthen its evidence base on defined benefit (DB) discretionary payments.

Some campaign groups have raised concerns that “recalcitrant” employers could undermine the goals of the Pension Schemes Bill. Still, TPR was clear that its job is to ensure savers receive the pensions they’re promised, and discretionary payments don’t fall under this guarantee.

This week also saw the Pensions Administration Standards Association respond to TPR’s consultation on its updated enforcement strategy, saying that drawing a clearer line between what’s handled through guidance and what requires enforcement would help make the regulator’s approach more effective.

The other big piece of news this week came from the Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham on 21 October, where 20 of Britain’s largest pension providers and insurers unveiled a new investor-led partnership, the Sterling 20.

The partnership, designed to channel the nation’s savings into key infrastructure and fast-growing sectors such as AI and fintech, was widely welcomed as a positive step towards unlocking more productive investment, though some in the industry cautioned that care is needed to ensure pension funds don’t end up being used primarily to fix the problems of UK Plc.

At the same event, Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, unveiled plans for a “blitz” on business bureaucracy as part of the government’s new Regulatory Action Plan.

As part of this, TPR will review its scheme return and supervisory return data collection requirements by March 2026 and reassess the amount of capital master trusts are required to hold.

Elsewhere, Autumn Budget chatter continues to ramp up as November creeps closer.

Pensions UK suggested a Pensions Commission could finally end the cycle of annual tax speculation by setting a long-term plan that keeps the system fair, incentivised, and affordable.

That feels timely, especially given Nucleus research showing that 59 per cent of people are worried about possible changes to tax-free cash in the Budget.

And with inflation figures out this week confirming a 4.8 per cent rise for pensioners under the state pension triple lock in 2026, the conversation about how sustainable current pension promises really isn’t going away anytime soon.

In addition to the discourse around the upcoming Budget this week, pension transfers have been another topic front of mind for many.

Origo reported that pension transfer times have continued to accelerate through 2025, as well as that there were further efficiency gains through the third quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, XPS Group’s latest Transfer Value Index showed that although DB transfer values have continued to fall, there are encouraging signs that the market is beginning to stabilise.

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