Published
26th September 2025
Dorset Council has selected Local Pension Partnership Investments (LPPI) as its preferred new investment pooling partner to manage its Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) fund assets.
This decision was made by the Pension Fund Committee, after careful analysis and independent advice, and follows a government directive for LGPS funds to consolidate into fewer and stronger investment pools.
LPPI currently manages nearly £30 billion in pension fund assets for other clients and is recognised for its stable governance, investment expertise and commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG).
The Dorset County Pension Fund is currently valued at over £4 billion, held on behalf of over 80,000 scheme members across more than 200 employers, including Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council.
Cllr Andy Todd, Vice-Chair of the Pension Fund Committee, said: “This is a positive step towards securing the long-term sustainability of the Dorset County Pension Fund. LPPI is a well-established, well-regulated investment pool with a strong track record of performance, advice, responsible investment and collaboration, and we are confident that this new partnership will deliver long-term benefits for our scheme members, their employers and the wider community.”
Chris Rule, Chief Executive Officer, LPPI, said: “We’re really pleased that Dorset County Pension Fund has selected us as its preferred pooling partner. This decision is the culmination of an extensive due diligence process that’s consistently highlighted the opportunity we have to maximise the power of pooling together delivering an even more affordable, stable, scheme for the benefit of Dorset’s employers, its members and taxpayers across the county. With our existing partner funds, we’ll now be working through the next steps for new funds joining the pool.”
What will this mean for scheme members?
There will be no change to benefits or contributions. The LGPS is a defined benefit scheme, which means pensions are based on age, salary, and length of service (not investment performance), and member contribution rates are set nationally.
What will this mean for scheme employers?
Employer contribution rates are reviewed every three years by independent actuaries and their current review, which will set rates for April 2026 to March 2029, is already underway and will not be impacted by a change in investment pool. Joining LPPI is expected to enhance investment performance over time, potentially supporting reduced employer contributions in the future.
