We run a transparent, structured and independent process that delivers robust shortlists, stakeholder alignment and great outcomes – this is a value add service we provide for all our clients.
The HRPTP is a structured, independent service that supports pension schemes in selecting and appointing a professional trustee. Whether you’re seeking a sole trustee, trustee chair or co-trustee, we help you define your needs, engage the market, and appoint the right individual or firm to support your scheme’s governance journey.
The role of trustees is becoming more complex, with increasing regulatory demands, governance expectations and strategic decisions to navigate. Appointing the right professional trustee can bring clarity, experience and confidence to your board – but the selection process itself can be time-consuming and difficult to navigate. That’s where we come in.
We manage the full process from start to finish, from scoping your requirements through to supporting your final decision. This includes identifying suitable candidates and running a fair, transparent and auditable selection process.
We start with a kick-off call, taking time upfront to really understand your current situation, what you’re grappling with, and what you’re looking to achieve over the longer term. Where there are technical, skills or experience gaps on your trustee board, we’ll help you explore these and understand what additional support may be helpful.
We’ll also talk through the type of candidate you’re looking for, considering both technical capability and cultural fit, to ensure we’re clear on the profile that will add the most value to your board.
From there, we build a clear plan aligned to your timeline. We coordinate initial engagement with candidates, manage the interview process, and support you through to final decision‑making.
To keep everything running smoothly, we simply ask that you provide consistent feedback on candidates at each stage of the process.
We’re completely independent, with no commercial ties to trustee firms. We’ve supported over twenty successful appointments across schemes of all sizes, using a structured, efficient process that’s tailored to each client’s needs. We have a deep understanding of the full professional trustee landscape and are well‑versed in recommending individuals and firms from across the whole market, ensuring the right fit for each scheme. We’re trusted by clients and trustee firms alike for our integrity and professionalism.
As well as happy clients, we consistently find that professional trustees value going through our process, even where they are ultimately unsuccessful, due to the clear structure and detailed feedback provided. We also support the selection of covenant and legal advisers, offering a joined‑up approach to governance.
20+ successful trustee appointments delivered
100% independent and conflict-free process
This is a complimentary value-add service
Trusted by schemes ranging from £25m to £2bn+
Strong relationships across the full trustee landscape
Consistently positive client and candidate feedback
In this episode of PITstop, Lisa Whitfield is joined by Helen Beckinsale, Head of Relationship Management at Vidett, to discuss the future of professional trusteeship.
To see the full series of our PITstop vides, please click the link below.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like to find out more about the Hymans Robertson professional trustee programme
Strategic Relationship Executive and HRTPT Lead
Partner and Head of Strategic Relationships
Strategic Relationship Executive
Strategic Relationship Coordinator
A professional trustee is an independent pensions expert appointed to a trustee board to strengthen governance, decision-making and confidence - particularly where schemes are complex, under pressure or evolving.
You may consider appointing a professional trustee when a scheme’s governance needs are evolving — for example, as complexity increases, decisions become more strategic, or the trustee board would benefit from additional independence, capacity or experience. A professional trustee can strengthen decision making, support effective challenge and help ensure the board is operating as well as it can. The appointment is often considered as part of a broader focus on board effectiveness, ensuring the right skills, dynamics and structures are in place to support good outcomes over the long term.
A scheme can add additional professional trustees to their scheme to compliment the current professional trustee holding the Chair of Trustees role, or as a supporting co-trustee. This is typical on large schemes, and the second independent trustee would bring a different set of skills or knowledge to the existing trustee.
You may wish to do a light-touch review on an annual basis, similar to an employee end-of-year review, and a more in-depth review every few years, with a full market review where this is deemed necessary. This is consistent with the way in which most pension scheme advisory and board appointments are operated.
Need help selecting a professional trustee or sole trustee for your pension scheme?
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Watch our short video series where we chat with professional trustees.
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Join me, alongside my colleagues Mark Stansfield and Hannah English from Hymans Robertson, as well as an external speaker from Aviva, for the first webinar in our three-year retirement adequacy project.
Initial views from the Pensions Commission on retirement adequacy, exploring key risks, savings gaps and priorities for future UK pensions reform.
Discover how behavioural science is changing pension decision-making, from personalised nudges to engagement, with practical ideas for trustees.
The Pension Schemes Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, on the eve of the prorogation of the 2024/26 session of Parliament. Read our Briefing Note to find out more.
