Judging

The UK Pensions Awards are rightly regarded as the industry's most prestigious accolades, which recognise continuous and ongoing improvement.

All categories EXCEPT Innovation Awards

For all categories barring the five Innovation Awards, judges will measure submissions against three set criteria - innovation, performance and service - in addition to looking at the entry forms submitted.

The overall aim of these awards is to recognise providers that offer the highest level of innovation, performance and service and innovation to occupational pension schemes and their members - and have done the most to improve this level of performance, service and innovation over the past year (the 12 months to October 31, 2012).

Judges will award up to 100 marks on three set criteria - with up to 40 marks for innovation and up to 30 marks each on performance/benefit to clients and service standards.

The submission should be no more than 4 pages of A4 in length. All parts of the submission must refer to specific developments during the past 12 months.

The set criteria for the main submission, along with some ideas and pointers for things to include under each heading, are:

Innovation:

What specific innovations or new services have you launched over the 12 months to 31 October, 2012? What is available in addition to the basic core and value added services that are provided? How do you liaise with clients to ensure developments continue to meet their needs? Which new services have been introduced over the past year and how successful have they proved? How quickly can products and processes be adapted to meet market changes or to meet an individual client's needs?

Performance:

What has your performance been over the 12 months to 31 October, 2012 and how does this compare to your peers? Do you benchmark your services to clients and, if so, how do you compare against your peers? How do you measure how well you are performing for clients and how do you monitor performance or service standards and act on the results? How frequently do account managers discuss performance and operational and service levels with clients on a face-to-face basis? How frequently are factual/statistical reports produced?

Service:

In what ways have you improved your service to clients over the 12 months to 31 October 2012? Have you provided any extra value services, such as training courses, seminars or education to trustees to clients over the period? Do you carry out formal research with clients to measure how effectively you meet or exceed their expectations? How often do senior managers review operational standards against the service standards agreed with each client? How do you report to clients and how do you ensure they receive up-to-date and meaningful information in a format that meets their requirements?

Innovation Awards

For the five innovation awards, judges will measure the submissions solely on the basis of innovations made over the past year (the 12 months to October 31, 2012).

Judges will award up to 100 marks - looking at the extent to which your firm has developed new services, products and offerings for clients and the extent to which these innovations helped pension schemes , sponsors and trustees.

The submission should be no more than 4 pages of A4 in length. All parts of the submission must refer to specific developments during the past 12 months.

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