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Self-administered meaning

What does Self-administered mean?
In pensions practice, “self-administered” describes a scheme where the trustees hold the assets and invest them directly or through an external investment manager, rather than benefits being provided wholly under a single insurance policy (an “insured” scheme). It is a descriptive industry term, not generally defined in legislation or case law. Key legal features and implications: - Trustee control and accountability for investment strategy and implementation, including appointing and overseeing investment managers and custodians. - Compliance with trustee investment duties and governance (for example, preparing a statement of investment principles and ongoing monitoring, where required by law and regulator guidance). - Wider investment options (such as direct property and pooled funds) balanced by increased administrative, reporting and risk‑management obligations. Usage is broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Ireland, the term is used similarly for occupational pension schemes where trustees (often including a pensioneer/professional trustee) invest assets directly or via an investment manager, contrasted with insured arrangements and subject to Pensions Authority and Revenue requirements. Do not confuse the generic label with specific products such as a Small Self‑Administered Scheme (SSAS) or self‑directed PRSA, which have additional regulatory and tax rules.
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View the related Checklists about Self-administered

CHECKLISTS
UK Share Incentive Plans: Individual Eligibility Flowchart for Tax-Advantaged Awards (ITEPA 2003)

Share incentive plan (SIP) A SIP lets companies that satisfy the scheme’s eligibility rules offer tax-advantaged share awards on an all-employee basis. The shares must be held and administered by a trustee who is resident in the UK. Within a SIP, four award types are available in total: free shares, partnership shares, matching shares and dividend shares...

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CHECKLISTS
Procurement Act 2023: comparative practitioner guide to procedures, MAT, dynamic markets, direct awards, open frameworks, exclusion/debarment, KPIs and transparency versus the Public Contracts Regulations 2015

This practical guidance relates to the Procurement Act 2023 regime From 24 February 2025, the core provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) take effect. Competitions launched on or after that date must, where relevant, proceed under PA 2023, whereas procurements initiated under earlier rules must continue to be run and administered in accordance with those regimes. The previous legislation comprises: Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), SI 2015/102 Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (UCR 2016), SI 2016/274 Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 (CCR 2016), SI 2016/273 Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (DSPCR 2011), SI 2011/1848 This guidance sets out a comparison of the principal features of public procurement under PA 2023 and PCR 2015, SI 2015/102. For background on PA 2023, see Practice Note: Introduction to the Procurement Act 2023—PA 2023 and Does the Procurement Act 2023 apply?—flowchart. For background on PCR 2015, SI 2015/102, see Practice Note: Introduction to public contracts procurement and Public procurement procedure...

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CHECKLISTS
Financial literacy self-assessment for in-house lawyers: checklist on financial statements, cash versus profit, ratios, working capital, budgeting, investment appraisal, annual reports and building finance-ready business cases

Question Answer This Checklist is for in-house lawyers. It helps you gauge how well you grasp the key finance and accounting concepts you are likely to encounter day to day, and how they apply within the business. Use it to spot knowledge gaps-both technical and business-specific-and to prioritise what to tackle next so you can contribute more effectively to commercial discussions. Assess your current confidence level honestly; this will show you where to concentrate your learning. Some questions test awareness of concepts, others explore how you have used this knowledge practically; use both to target your development. If several areas feel uncomfortable, that is common and fixable. See Practice Notes: Introduction to business finance and accounting-financial accounting and external performance and Introduction to business finance and accounting-management accounting and internal decision-making for guidance on the essentials of business finance and accounting, and why this matters for in-house lawyers. See: Improving your financial literacy-checklist for practical steps that you can take to improve your financial literacy and understanding of how...

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FLOWCHARTS
FIDIC 1999 Red/Yellow/Silver: Defects rejection, removal, re-execution and rectification—flowchart (clauses 7.5, 7.6, 11.1, 12.3; failed Tests after Completion)

Flowchart This Flowchart gives a summary of the EU trade mark (EUTM) registration procedure as administered by the EU Intellectual Property Office...

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FLOWCHARTS
CSOP qualifying shares—UK flowchart and statutory tests for income tax relief under ITEPA 2003

This flow diagram outlines the steps for submitting a compensation event claim seeking extra time to finish the works and/or extra payment under the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract...

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NEWS
SFO to deploy covert tactics and publish guidance to revive corporate self-reporting and enforce ECCTA 'failure to prevent fraud' from September 2025, amid DPA lull and cross-border collaboration

Nick Ephgrave Nick Ephgrave acknowledged it was no secret that the SFO has witnessed a slight drop-off in the number of companies approaching the specialist anti-corruption body with suspected fraud and bribery within their organisation. To address this, the SFO intends to invest further in covert intelligence-gathering so it can better understand what is happening in corporate settings and, in turn, either pursue targets or encourage them to come forward, he told Law360 and reporters from other news outlets. Ephgrave said he wants to be more in control of the referrals received by an agency that largely depends on businesses volunteering information, with the aim of invigorating and provoking self-reporting by companies. He added that he is really seeking to drive up the number of corporates the SFO deals with, whether through self-reporting supported by revised corporate guidance, via intelligence from whistleblowers, or by relying on good old-fashioned covert policing techniques such as surveillance, the deployment of undercover officers, and the use of informants...

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NEWS
Pensions Ombudsman upholds administrator’s death benefit discretion: civil partner’s intestacy inheritance and invalid will (‘letter of wishes’) were relevant factors (Mr T, CAS-64304-R5R1)

Original news Mr T (CAS-64304-R5R1)—14 April 2025 Summary The Pensions Ombudsman dismissed a complaint concerning the distribution of death benefits from a pension scheme. It concluded the scheme administrator’s decision was reasonable, neither irrational nor perverse. The complainant was not named in a supposed will—which was invalid as it lacked witnesses—and was the sole beneficiary of the late member’s estate. Before deciding, the administrator carried out extensive enquiries. This outcome serves as a reminder that trustees and administrators of pension schemes should undertake appropriate enquiries when determining death benefit payments. What were the facts? Mr S was a member of the AJ Bell You Invest Self invested Personal Pension Plan (the Scheme). Following his death, he was survived by, among others, Mr T. Mr T had entered into a civil partnership with Mr S...

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NEWS
Malaysia: Federal Court confirms dual routes to enforce UK-seated arbitral awards: REJA via English confirmation judgment or AA 2005, with minimal curial review and limited debtor defences

ING Bank NV v Tumpuan Megah Development Sdn Bhd Civil Appeal No. 02(i)-19-06-2024(W) What are the practical implications of this case? This Federal Court ruling carries notable procedural and substantive consequences for arbitration and commercial litigation practitioners. It confirms that an award creditor holding a foreign arbitral award from a reciprocating country (such as the UK) enjoys a strategic election between: enforcing the award directly under the AA 2005; or obtaining a ‘confirmation judgment’ at the seat and enforcing that judgment via the REJA 1958. The court found that REJA and the AA are distinct, self-contained regimes; the AA does not supersede or displace REJA. This settles that taking the REJA pathway is a legitimate statutory route, not any species of ‘judgment laundering’. The decision has immediate consequences for client strategy: advisers to award creditors may now treat the REJA course as a viable, and potentially more robust, enforcement approach. By contrast, advisers to award debtors should note that where a creditor...

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View the related Practice Notes about Self-administered

PRACTICE NOTES
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974: summary-only offences—obstruction, false inspector, HSE inquiries; time limits, prosecution, venue, corporate liability, penalties

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA 1974) sets out broad duties to protect the health and safety of employees and others affected by work. Not complying with these duties is a criminal offence, prosecutable in either the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court. For details of the duties under HSWA 1974, ss 2–7, see the following Practice Notes: Failure to carry out health and safety duties under HSWA 1974—offences Safety and the risk to safety under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Employees' duties to take reasonable care for health and safety at work Directors’ duties for health and safety Health and safety law and the self-employed This Practice Note highlights those HSWA 1974 offences that can only be tried in the magistrates’ courts. Summary only health and safety offences The health and safety offences that are triable only in the magistrates’ court are: Breach of provisions relating...

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PRACTICE NOTES
HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules 2018 (Hong Kong): awards—form, reasons, seat, costs, time limits, publication, termination, interpretation, correction, additional awards and recourse

This Practice Note sets out guidance on arbitral awards in proceedings under the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) Administered Arbitration Rules 2018 (2018 HKIAC Rules; HKIAC 2018). As explained in Practice Note: HKIAC (2018)—the HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules—application and key features, the 2018 HKIAC Rules generally govern HKIAC arbitrations commenced on or after 1 November 2018, save where the parties agree otherwise; for HKIAC arbitrations begun before 1 November 2018, the 2013 HKIAC Rules will generally apply unless the parties agreed otherwise. For an overview of the HKIAC and how it is organised, see Practice Note: HKIAC—background to and structure of the institution. Awards in HKIAC arbitrations In line with most institutional regimes, under the 2018 HKIAC Rules a tribunal may render interim, interlocutory, or partial awards and, in addition to a final award, may issue interim awards as to costs (HKIAC 2018, art 35.1). Where the tribunal has more than one arbitrator, any award or other ruling is to be made by a majority. Failing a...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK taxation of trading by trustees and personal representatives: badges of trade, computation of profits, capital allowances, basis period reform, loss relief, and reporting

Trustees and personal representatives can, in fact, carry on a trade. For example, where a self-employed trader dies, the personal representative may keep the business running until it is wound down or sold. In the same way, trustees or interest in possession beneficiaries might be trading and could qualify for reliefs such as roll-over relief or business asset disposal relief. The broad tax rules governing trading apply to all traders alike, whether they are individuals, trustees, or personal representatives. This Practice Note sets out those principles below. Is there a trade? The key issue to examine is whether there is a trade. At times this will be clear, for instance when personal representatives step in to continue the deceased’s business; however, in other situations even a solitary transaction can amount to a trade. As an illustration, trustees who buy a property to renovate may, depending on the circumstances, be regarded as operating a property development business. If so, any gain on the later sale would fall within income...

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PRECEDENTS
External DPO appointment terms—pro‑client amendments, warranties and Schedule for company‑to‑individual consultancy agreement under UK GDPR

Delete clause 3.6 of Precedent: Consultancy agreement—company and individual—pro-client and replace it with the following clauses 3.6 and 3.7: 3.6 How you organise your work is for you alone to determine, and you shall perform your duties as data protection officer (DPO) (as described in the Schedule) in an independent and self-directed manner at all times. You will not be given (and the Company [ and its Group Companies ] will not attempt to give you) any directions or instructions whatsoever concerning the performance or exercise of those duties. 3.7 Subject to clause 3.6, you shall give proper consideration to the reasonable requests of the [ Board OR Chief Executive ] from time to time and, where reasonably practicable, as appropriate, properly work and co-operate with any employee, worker, agent or other consultant of the Company [ or any Group Company ] in the provision and delivery of the Services. Insert the subsequent provisions in Precedent: Consultancy agreement—company and individual—pro-client as new clauses 3.14 and 3.15...

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PRECEDENTS
Law Firm Pricing Capability Self-assessment: Governance, Analytics, Skills, Resources and Execution with Scoring and Action Plan

1 Pricing governance and policy analysis 1.1 Questions This pricing capability analysis allows us to rigorously examine our pricing capability and resourcing to pinpoint opportunities for enhancement. Scoring should be frank and mirror the current reality, not our preferences or what we think it should be. Question statement Score: 10 = strongly agree; 1 = strongly disagree Comments An effective pricing partner/manager/director holds clear, recognised accountability for all pricing matters. Our pricing committee operates effectively. Pricing policies, processes and practices are well developed, clearly defined and consistently enforced. Pricing policies are applied even‑handedly across the firm, covering partners as well as non‑partners. There are robust controls over write‑offs made by partners. There are robust controls over write‑offs made by non‑partners. Fee rate discounts approved by partners are subject to strong controls. Fee rate discounts approved by non‑partners are subject to strong controls...

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PRECEDENTS
Standstill notification of contract award to successful tenderer: template under Regulation 87 PCR 2015 (pre-PA 2023) — England, Wales and Northern Ireland [Archived]

ARCHIVED: This Precedent has been archived and is no longer maintained. STOP PRESS: With effect from 24 February 2025, the principal provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) are in force. Any procurements launched on or after that date must proceed under PA 2023, while those started under the earlier legislation (the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015), the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, the Concession Regulations 2016, and the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) must continue to be run and administered under that legislation. See Practice Note: Introduction to the Procurement Act 2023—PA 2023...

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View the related Q&As about Self-administered

Q&As
Can a personal representative recover leasehold service charges from beneficiaries in occupation?

For the purposes of this Q&A, it is assumed that: the leasehold property forms part of the unadministered Estate the Estate bears the primary responsibility to pay the service charge the beneficiaries in occupation have a right to occupy the leasehold property Whilst the Estate is being administered, legal ownership of the deceased’s unadministered assets is vested in the personal representatives (PRs) for the purposes of administration and to carry out that administration. In the meantime, no beneficiary, whether taking under the deceased’s Will or by intestacy, has any proprietary interest in any particular or identifiable asset comprised within the unadministered Estate, nor any enforceable claim to such an item. See Practice Note: Beneficiaries’ rights and remedies. The PRs hold extensive powers to administer and manage the deceased’s Estate...

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Q&As
Landlord waste penalty notice—serviced units: guidance & appeal

What is the waste duty of care? Under section 34(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 1990), businesses are required to handle controlled waste safely and dispose of it lawfully. This obligation is called the waste duty of care. Controlled waste covers household, industrial and commercial waste, and anything of that kind. In brief, the duty means waste holders must: ensure their waste goes to a suitably permitted facility ensure anyone managing their waste complies with permit conditions prevent the escape of waste transfer waste only to a registered carrier or authorised permit holder provide a written description of the waste when it is transferred Failure to meet these duties is an offence under EPA 1990, s 34(6), and is punishable: on summary conviction, by a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum on conviction on indictment, by a fine Who does the waste duty of care apply to?...

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Q&As
Competent person scheme approval for replacement front door under 50% glazing

Regulation 12(6) of the Building Regulations 2010 (the 2010 Regulations), SI 2010/2214 (SI 2010/2214, reg 12(6)) Regulation 12(6) removes the need for a building notice or full plans where the works are solely those in Schedule 3 (by the corresponding registrant) or in Schedule 4. Schedule 3 includes door replacements: 10: Replacement of a window, rooflight, roof window or door in an existing dwelling—by BM Trada Certification Limited; CERTASS Limited; Certsure LLP; Fensa Limited (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme); NAPIT Registration Limited; Network VEKA Limited; or Stroma Certification Limited. 11: The same in a non-dwelling—excluding load-bearing or structural glass, glazed curtain walling and revolving doors—by BM Trada Certification Limited; CERTASS Limited; Certsure LLP; Fensa Limited (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme); or Stroma Certification Limited. Schedule 4, paragraph 1(h) covers replacing an external door where the door plus frame has not more than 50% of its internal face area glazed. If the door falls within Schedule 4, paragraph 1(h), no notice or plans are needed....

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