Nest Pensions reveals UK pension investment gap

February 23, 2026

Nest Pensions, the UK’s largest workplace pension scheme, has unveiled new research highlighting widespread confusion among savers about where their pension money is invested.

The research found that while 83% of savers say it is important to know where their pension is invested, only 24% actually know exactly where their money goes. Just 23% of Brits expect their pension to be invested locally, while 66% either would not expect it to be invested in their local area or are unsure.

The findings also revealed a notable gender gap, with only 7% of women surveyed considering themselves to be investors, compared to 20% of men.

Nest Pensions currently has around £13bn invested in the UK, supporting communities and infrastructure nationwide. However, the data suggests that millions of people saving into pensions remain unaware of the real-world impact their retirement funds can have. The

To address this disconnect, Nest Pensions has partnered with Brendan Sheerin, best known for hosting Coach Trip, to take members and their friends on a road trip across Yorkshire. The tour showcases various locations where members’ pension pots are invested, bringing visibility to projects that range from local shopping centres and pubs to offshore wind farms, manufacturing facilities and infrastructure developments.

Coach Trip’s Brendan Sheeran said, “I thought I’d seen every type of coach trip possible, but this journey with Nest members had a real twist. Watching people discover that their own pensions are invested in places and businesses they recognise was a real lightbulb moment. I had a blast teaming up with Nest on this campaign, and it’s absolutely fantastic to know they’re helping build things right here in the UK that people can see and feel proud of, especially in my hometown of Yorkshire!”

Gavin Perera-Betts, Chief Customer Officer at Nest Pensions said, “Our 13 million members are investors, even if they don’t realise it. With our Everyday Investors campaign, we’re showing that investing isn’t confined to City skyscrapers, it’s happening in communities across the UK. We want our members to feel proud that their pension is invested, supporting projects and communities across the UK.”