The SPC Administration Committee provides a centre of expertise drawn from third party administrators with a direct role in the day to day running of pension schemes. The focus of the Committee is to consider how the many developments in the pension world, legislation and others, affect the way in which day to day administration and risk management is undertaken.

There are many groupings in the pension industry with an actuarial, investment or legal slant, but we believe the Administration Committee is the only one of its kind that looks at the 'nuts and bolts' of running a 'real world' pension scheme.

The Committee and its working parties have over the years been building bridges with legislators and regulators in the pension field, so that they are regularly confronted with the 'but will it work in practice?' question.

The many activities and achievements of the Committee include:-

• Establishing with the Law Society, the Judiciary and the Solicitors Family Law Association a panel to examine the administrative angles of pension sharing on divorce.

• Liaising with the National Insurance Contributions Office on the recovery of overpaid age related contracted-out rebates and on improving processes on GMP reconciliation.

• Liaising with HMRC on the practicalities of pension taxation simplification.

• Influencing early-stage thinking by the Pensions Regulator on record keeping standards.

A number of in-house pension scheme administrators have expressed interest in the work of the Committee. We have therefore set up the SPC Administration Network, which enables in-house administrators to keep in touch with the work of the Committee and participate in some of the Committee's work.

Members of the Administration Network benefit from the following :-

• Copies of minutes of the Committee and its supporting papers.

• Up to three meetings a year, to be briefed on and discuss the work being undertaken by the Committee, and to influence its agenda.

• Invitations to attend SPC Evening Meetings in London, the North West, Yorkshire and Scotland.

• The opportunity to subscribe to SPC's comprehensive Document Service, which keeps abreast of forthcoming legislation and regulatory developments.

We are confident that this represents value second-to-none. For instance membership for a year costs less than attendance at some conferences for a single day and could certainly be used to help demonstrate that in-house administrators have the knowledge expected by the Pensions Regulator. However, we would be happy to offer an initial three months free-of-charge trial membership.

Annual membership in 2011 is £860.

However, new members benefit from a three-month free trial period, followed by an initial year's subscription of £510.

If you would like to join in, and take advantage of this unique platform for administrators, please click here for an application form and e-mail it to us. We will then set up your trial membership.