The Trustee toolkit is a free online learning programme from The Pensions Regulator (TPR) developed to help trustees meet the trustee knowledge and understanding (TKU) requirements.

You’ll need to register and create an account. This will enable you to save your progress and print a personalised development record which records your progress and achievements.

The programme is split into separate modules designed to enable you to dip in and out of the content and learn at your own pace.

Each module contains:

• an elearning module split into scenarios and tutorials
• an assessment
• other activities such as a check your scheme workheet and case examples
  

If you are a novice we recommend you start with the scenarios in each elearning module, as you will be directed to tutorials as required.

If you are more experienced we would recommend you start with the assessment to test your knowledge. When you review your assessment, you can find out which questions you got right or wrong. You will also be told which tutorial the questions is related to in the elearning module.

Essential learning modules are those recommended for your scheme type and size to help meet the minimum requirements under the trustee knowledge and understanding scope requirements.

Additional learning modules are non-essential and optional but may help with specific issues within your scheme to expand your learning.

This is replicated on your development record. When you first start your learning all the essential learning modules will be shown as ‘not attempted’ on your development record. The status of each will change as you pass assessments.

The average time for all users of the toolkit is approximately 16.5 hours but this will depend both on the type of scheme, the learner’s previous experience and the course they take through the learning. It is designed so that experienced trustees can ‘fast-track’ their learning, for example by trying the assessments first if they feel confident they know the topic the elearning module covers.

To help you plan your studies you can download a quick guide to personal development alongside a learning needs analysis tool, learning log and study planner. Download the tools.

We archived these modules on 6th April 2017 and so they are no longer be available to complete.

• DB scheme, solvent employer: buy-in / partial buy-out
• DB scheme, solvent employer: wind-up or buy-out
• DB scheme, insolvent employer: wind-up or transfer to PPF
• Winding up a DC scheme

These modules were additional learning and did not form part of the essential learning programme related to trustee knowledge and understanding (TKU).

These modules became out of date. Before automatically updating them, we took the opportunity to review any alternative sources of information for trustees and found that more comprehensive and detailed information is already available on our website.

Rather than having multiple products available which could be confusing for our customers, we decided to remove the out of date content and leave only the web content.

You can find this support here:

• Read our wind-up guidance


• Winding up a defined contribution scheme

This module was launched on 24 April 2015 and is aimed at trustees of DB schemes. It replaces two modules which were archived in July 2014 (Fund management and Strategic investment) and covers the trustee knowledge and understanding scope Unit 6 - Strategic asset allocation.

The module covers:

• how asset and liability values change and how sensitive they are to changes to market conditions
• scenario analysis, projection modelling and stochastic modelling tools and how they can help trustees
• example changes trustees make to the scheme’s asset allocation strategy
• the typical process for reviewing the investment strategy in an integrated risk management framework

The programme is split into separate modules designed to enable you to dip in and out of the content and learn at your own pace.

Each module contains:

• an elearning module split into scenarios and tutorials
• an assessment
• other activities such as a check your scheme workheet and case examples

If you are a novice we recommend you start with the scenarios in each elearning module, as you will be directed to tutorials as required.

If you are more experienced we would recommend you start with the assessment to test your knowledge. When you review your assessment, you can find out which question you got right or wrong. You will also be told which tutorial the question is reated to in the elearning module.

The toolkit has been designed to help you meet the minimum requirements under trustee knowledge and understanding (TKU) within 6 months of becoming a trustee as required in our code of practice. If you are already a trustee you will find the toolkit a very useful refresher and it may fill in some gaps you didn’t know you had.

As you complete modules you will be able to print your development record which shows your progress and achievements to evidence your learning. From time to time we will update modules or add new learning tools, so it is worth revisiting the toolkit often to get up to date and print an updated development record.

We request feedback from Trustee toolkit customers every year via our online survey. In 2016 91% of respondents rated the toolkit positively overall, 98% would recommend it to others and 96% felt more confident carrying our their duties as a direct result of studying the Trustee toolkit.

You can also provide feedback via our form, found on the homepage. We review this monthly. Customer feedback drives improvements to the toolkit.

Based upon your scheme type and size we have split the modules into essential and additional learning.

This is replicated on your development record. When you first start your learning all the essential learning modules will be shown as ‘not attempted’ on your development record. The status of each will change as you pass assessments.

Essential learning modules are those recommended for your scheme type and size to help meet the minimum requirements under the trustee knowledge and understanding scope requirements.

Additional learning modules are non-essential and optional but may help with specific issues within your scheme such a partial buy-out or wind-up or to expand your learning.

The average time for all users of the toolkit is approximately 16.5 hours but this will depend both on the type of scheme, the learner’s previous experience and the course they take through the learning. It is designed so that experienced trustees can ‘fast-track’ their learning, for example by trying the assessments first if they feel confident they know the topic the elearning module covers.

To help you plan your studies you can download a quick guide to personal development alongside a learning needs analysis tool, learning log and study planner. Download the tools.

You simply select the module you wish to open from the ‘Your learning’ screen. You will then be taken to the course page where you can launch the available learning materials for that topic. The elearning module opens in the same window.

No, it is up to you in which order you complete the modules. If you are new to occupational pension schemes and/or the trustee role it may be beneficial to start with ‘Introducing pension schemes’ to build a base of knowledge that is required in later modules. However, if you are more experienced you may wish to select later modules where you want to refresh your knowledge first.

It is up to you how to work through each module.

If you are a novice we recommend you start with the scenarios in each elearning module, as you will be directed to tutorials as required.

If you are more experienced we would recommend you start with the assessment to test your knowledge. When you review your assessment, you can find out which questions you got right or wrong. You will also be told which tutorial the questions is related to in the elearning module.

The scenarios follow a fictional trustee board that you are part of as they make day-to-day decisions about the running of their scheme.

The tutorials provide the technical background to help you complete the scenarios and/or pass the assessments. They will often feature fictional case studies to help explain difficult concepts.

The case examples feature mainly fictitious examples to illustrate the key learning points from the tutorials. You may be able to research some of these further online.

The ‘check your scheme’ worksheet will help you apply the learning from the scenarios, tutorials and case examples to your own scheme. It is important that you complete these as they bridge the gap between theory and practice. These can be downloaded from the course page, through the Resources tab as a worksheet to complete or from within the module itself at the end of each scenario.

Often you will be tasked with reading through your scheme documents or speaking to other trustees on your board to answer key questions about your own scheme.

Throughout the scenarios and tutorials you’ll be asked questions so that you can confirm that you have understood the learning points. Sometimes you will be asked questions where thinking through the topic yourself and having a go at answering the question is the learning. It does not matter if you get these questions wrong as you will be provided with detailed feedback.

You will also find a short assessment on the course page to test your understanding of the topics covered. You do not have to complete the elearning module in order to try the assessment.

It is important to keep records of your progress with Trustee knowledge and understanding. When you first create your account a development record will be available for you to download. To begin with this will list all of the essential learning modules for your scheme type and size with the status ‘Not passed’. As you pass assessments for these modules the status will change to either ‘passed’ or ‘distinction’ depending on your score.

Any additional learning module you have passed will be listed under ‘Additional learning’ on your development record. Any modules that you have passed/or completed in the case of wind-up which have subsequently been archived will be listed under ‘Archived modules’ on your development record.

No. You can just take the assessment and if you achieve a passing score your development record will be updated with this achievement.

You can find pass marks for each module in two places:

• Your learning: When you hover your mouse over each module a description of the module and pass marks are provided
• The course page: Before the link to launch the module there is a description of the module and the pass marks are provided

You only need to achieve a pass in each essential learning assessment to record this achievement on your development record. However if you have scored particularly highly in any of the assessments you may be awarded a distinction for that module which will be displayed on your development record.

Yes. In March 2016 we added a new feature in response to customer feedback. From the course page you can now select to 'Review previous assessments'. This will show you your assessment history. You can then select individual attempts to review. This will show you each question, your response and whether this was correct or incorrect.

Where a question is answered incorrectly you will be provided with the name of the tutorial related to that question. This will help you to focus your learning just on those tutorials when you next open the elearning module.

If you passed the assessment before this new feature was added you will not be able to review that assessment, only new attempts since the change.

In March 2016 we added the 'Review previous assessments' feature in response to customer feedback. However, if you passed the assessment before this new feature was added you will not be able to review that assessment, only new attempts since the change.

In March 2016 we added the 'Review previous assessments' feature in response to customer feedback. However, if you attempted the assessment before this new feature was added only your highest score awarded will be available for you to view. Since the change, any new attempts will be added to your history and will be available for review.

Yes you can. We added this feature in March 2016. When you have saved an assessment part way through you can return to it by selecting 'Continue assessment' on the course page.

No, there is no requirement to send your development record to TPR, it is for your records only.

The toolkit will be updated as and when changes to pensions legislation or industry practice dictate. The last major update to content took place in July 2014 and the last time a new module was added was April 2015. We will notify you of any significant changes in advance via email provided you have selected ‘yes’ for email notifications.

It is not a mandatory requirement to complete the Trustee toolkit. However, under the Pensions Act 2004 it is a requirement that pension trustees have appropriate knowledge and understanding of pensions and trust law, scheme investment and funding, and are conversant with their own scheme documents within 6 months of becoming a trustee. The Trustee toolkit is one way to help meet those requirements. The Scope Guidance tells you what you need to know and understand. Find out more about the trustee knowledge and understanding Scope Guidance.

We have provided a learning needs analysis tool which lists all of the trustee knowledge and understanding scope requirements and where you can find related learning in the toolkit. Download the tool.

On the ‘Your Learning’ screen you’ll have access to additional learning modules. These could include core toolkit modules that were not essential for your scheme type and size but may be beneficial to expand your knowledge.

In addition TPR website has a wealth of support for trustees.

No, the Trustee toolkit development record is not a recognised qualification. However, there are a range of courses offered for pension scheme trustees and the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) offers an exam. Find out more about PMI Awards in Pension Trusteeship.

Please can you contact our Customer Support team either by telephone on 0345 600 5666. Or by email via:customersupport@tpr.gov.uk

In March 2016 we launched a new version of the Trustee toolkit elearning modules which removed the need to have Adobe Flash Player installed on your device. We took this opportunity to ensure that the new modules were optimised for all customers in one version and so you can use screen readers with this new version of the elearning, there is no longer a seperate version. You can also download all of the learning content as accessible PDFs from the 'Resources' tab.

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