As part of our 100^th birthday we spoke to some of our clients to get their perspective of what it’s like working with us. Richard Shackleton, our Head of Pensions, spoke to Bob Bryant, Director of Pensions Services, RUK at BOC about Bob’s 26 year long relationship working with us.

When did you first start working with Hymans?

I first started working with Hymans Robertson back in 1995. When I joined BOC one of my first jobs was to take part in a review of the scheme’s actuarial adviser and we appointed Hymans – replacing the firm that had been in place for 60 years. It felt like a huge change at the time, but the team quickly got to know us and started adding value immediately.

What do you value about your relationship with Hymans?

I trust that the Hymans team will always do the right thing. They’re open and honest. They see themselves as part of our team and they work collaboratively – not just with me, but with our other advisers. There are no artificial boundaries, we’re all pulling together to make the scheme the best it can be.

Our purpose at Hymans is ‘Together, building better futures’ – how has that played out through our work with you?

I always have a clear sense that the team are working together to improve things for our members. They’re motivated by making our members’ futures more secure, which epitomises that purpose to me. A great example is something that happened last year. Hymans were part of a multi-disciplinary/multi-firm team to help the trustees, working jointly with the parent company, secure substantial improvements in covenant support as part of a funding and security agreement. There was no ego – just great teamwork and open collaboration, helping the trustees focus on the main issues in ways everyone could understand. We’re often sailing in complex waters like this, and their ability to cut through that complexity is so important.

How have we helped you to embrace change and innovate?

If you look back to 1995 – how much change have we seen in terms of regulation and legislation? They’ve helped the trustees navigate this change and helped us keep a sense of proportion with a firm focus on what’s best for our members over the long-term. They help us take a step back and take a broad view, rather than reacting to every single change. The security and funding agreement was a great example of that. It would have been easy to focus on the changing regulatory funding requirements, but the team stood back to think about how members’ interests could be best served by securing benefits for the longer term. Their solution – developed in conjunction with other advisers and the parent company – had our members at its heart.

We were also thrilled to be one of the founding members of Club Vita over ten years’ ago, which has helped us get a broader and deeper understanding of members’ longevity. Technology has changed almost as much as regulation!

How have we lived up to our values – friendly, straightforward, partnering, confident?

Collaboration with no ego is the definition of partnering. And you always get a straight answer you can understand with Hymans! The team has changed over the years, but I’ve always enjoyed working with them.

What one word sums up Hymans for you?

Real, down to earth people.

What is your most memorable experience of working with us over the years?

I wouldn’t want to single out any one particular example. We have worked together on a number of projects in the last 25 years, including a far-sighted GMP equalisation exercise (which is still valid after the Lloyds judgement) only a couple of years after they had been appointed, the closure of our main Defined Benefits scheme to future accrual, a major benefit change programme and the funding and security agreement. Through these, many other smaller projects and in our day-to day work, Hymans have always worked collaboratively with the company, trustees, other advisers and the in-house team seeking to achieve the best outcome for the company, trustees and members.

What is your hope (and birthday wish) for the future?

As the world becomes ever-more commercial and Hymans Robertson continue to grow, my birthday wish is that you never lose the sense of who you are – and how that makes you different.