Running the Scheme | Plumbing Industry Pension Scheme

Running the Scheme

The Plumbing & Mechanical Services (UK) Industry Pension Scheme is managed and administered by a ‘not for profit’ Trustee Company called Plumbing Pensions (UK) Limited.

The Trustee Company has overall responsibility for the effective running of the Scheme including administration of benefits, collection of contributions (if required), payment of pensions and other benefits, and the investment and safe custody of the Scheme’s assets.

The Directors of the Trustee Company meet regularly to discuss the Scheme. As well as full Board meetings every quarter, there are also sub-committee meetings that focus on specific areas of the Trustee’s responsibilities, such as investment, funding, governance or administration. 

The Trustee is supported by specialist external advisers and by Plumbing Pensions (UK) Administration Limited. The Directors receive ongoing training to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to carry out the role effectively. 

Meet the Directors

The Trustee Company has a Board of seven Directors: two directors are appointed by the Employer Company, Plumbing Pensions Employers Limited, two directors are appointed by Unite the Union, and the Trustee Company appoints three independent professional Directors, one of whom is nominated by the Board to be the independent Chair.

KB Independent Trustees Limited, represented by Jon Bridger

KB Independent Trustees Limited, represented by Jon Bridger

  • Chair (from September 2020)
  • Independent Director
  • Appointed November 2017 

The Trustee Corporation Limited, represented by Vivien Cockerill

The Trustee Corporation Limited, represented by Vivien Cockerill

  • Independent Director
  • Appointed December 2022

Andy McKinnell Limited, represented by Andy McKinnell

Andy McKinnell Limited, represented by Andy McKinnell

  • Independent Director
  • Appointed December 2022

Craig Chalmers

Craig Chalmers

  • Employer nominated Director
  • Appointed December 2022

Garry Forster

Garry Forster

  • Employer nominated Director
  • Appointed November 2020

John Allott

John Allott

  • Unite nominated Director
  • Appointed May 2006

Scott Foley

Scott Foley

  • Unite nominated Director
  • Appointed February 2013

The Administration Company

The Trustee Board is supported in the day-to-day aspects of running the Scheme by Plumbing Pensions (UK) Administration Limited, a separate company which has its own Board of Directors.

The Administration Company’s Board comprises three Directors: two Non-Executive Directors appointed by the Trustee Board and the CEO of the Administration Company.

Ian Baines (Chair)
Non-Executive Director

Myfanwy Barrett
Non-Executive Director

Stephen Graham
Chief Executive Officer


The Employer Company

Plumbing Pensions Employers Limited (PPEL) represents all the employers in the Scheme. PPEL is the Lead Employer for investment and funding matters, which means the Trustee must consult PPEL before changing the Scheme’s investment strategy and following each actuarial valuation.

PPEL is a company limited by guarantee, with the employer trade association SNIPEF as sole guarantor. PPEL has a Board of six Directors who have a duty to look after the interests of all the employers in the Scheme. There is an independent Chair, one Director nominated by each of the employer trade associations, SNIPEF and APHC, and three other Directors appointed by a selection process to represent the wider employers.

Dene Heywood
Independent Chair

Silviu (Rudi) Klein
Nominated by SNIPEF

John Thompson
Nominated by APHC

Allistair Charles
Employer nominated

Gordon Matheson
Employer nominated

Christopher Stuhlfelder
Employer nominated

Industry bodies

The following organisations have a longstanding involvement with the Scheme: