Heywood
CLASS (Computerised Local Authority Superannuation System) was established in 1975 and is a collaborative group created to support Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), Police and Fire pension schemes. Today, the CLASS group provides a formal forum where members can share best practice, discuss legislative and operational changes, identify common challenges and help shape the future development of Heywood's pension administration solutions.The CLASS Conference is Heywood's annual event, bringing together professionals from across the pensions industry to share knowledge, explore innovation and discuss the challenges shaping the sector.
Originally established as an exclusive event for Heywood's public sector customers, the CLASS Conference has evolved significantly over the years. Today, it welcomes both public and private sector customers, prospective customers and strategic partners, creating a broader forum for collaboration, networking and the exchange of ideas.
The conference features a diverse programme of product updates, industry insights and thought leadership sessions, complemented by presentations from industry experts and Heywood subject matter experts. Attendees gain valuable perspectives on the latest regulatory developments, emerging technologies and best practice, while also having the opportunity to connect with peers and the Heywood team.
As the event has grown, CLASS has become more than a customer conference - it is now a leading industry gathering that fosters collaboration, inspires innovation and helps organisations prepare for the future of pensions administration.
2026 CLASS Conference
In July, we held our 2026 CLASS Conference and welcomed external industry partners PASA, Quietroom, the Pensions Dashboard Programme, and The Pensions Regulator, who delivered keynote sessions.
We were also joined by customers who shared their knowledge and experiences, including Surrey County Council, San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association (SJCERA), Bath & North East Somerset Council, Carmarthenshire County Council, Kent County Council, Glasgow City Council, Gloucestershire County Council and Peninsula Pension Fund.
Here’s how the conference unfolded...
The conference was opened by Jo Griffiths, CLASS Chair and Pension Fund Manager at Torfaen County Borough Council, before she handed over to Sian Jones, Heywood’s CEO, to officially open the conference. Sian’s opening keynote reflected on Heywood’s recent partnership with Keylane following the acquisition, and she was joined by John Reynders, Keylane’s CEO, who shared his enthusiasm for the new partnership and his eagerness to learn more about and connect with Heywood’s customer community. Sian also explored the current pensions landscape, recent product developments, and the key areas of focus for the next 12 months.
Breakout Sessions
Throughout the conference, attendees enjoyed a varied agenda of sessions covering Heywood’s latest software developments and priorities across the pensions industry. From pensions administration and legislative changes to data quality, digital transformation and employer-focused activities, each session provided practical insights, expert guidance and real-world experiences to help attendees navigate change. Here are some of the highlights from the breakout sessions:
CLASS Show & Tell
This is one of the conference's most requested returning sessions and featured presentations from four customers who shared their real-world experiences and best practices for making the most of Heywood's products. Through practical examples and open discussions, the speakers highlighted successful approaches, lessons learned, and tips for maximising the value of the solutions. The interactive format encouraged attendees to ask questions, exchange ideas, and gain valuable insights from their peers, leaving attendees with practical takeaways they could apply within their own organisations.
Quietroom: How members use AI and what that means for how schemes manage comms
“AI is answering members' pension questions right now, whether we like it or not.”
Simon Grover and Vedika Maheshwari from Quietroom joined us to present findings from live audits of real pension scheme websites, exploring how AI responds to members' queries. They highlighted the risks and opportunities this presents, as well as the practical steps customers can take to improve the accuracy and quality of the information AI provides. The thought-provoking session gave attendees plenty to consider about how we create and manage member communications in an AI-driven world.
For more information, take a look at our webinar with Quietroom on AI.
Pensions Dashboards and ISP
Following the successful launch of our Pensions Dashboard ISP, we’ve continued to work closely with the Pensions Dashboard Programme (PDP) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) on the next phase.
We were joined by Chris Curry from PDP and Lucy Stone from TPR for an insightful keynote session, where they shared valuable feedback from testing and answered customers’ questions. This was followed by a Heywood-led ISP session exploring how customers can prepare to manage possible matches effectively and the importance of reviewing the matching criteria used within the Pensions Dashboard.
Embracing change – from the side of the desk to programme management
This customer-led session explored how their organisation transformed the way it plans, prioritises and delivers change by adopting a more structured programme management approach. Well received by attendees, the session offered an interesting perspective on driving organisational change, with practical insights into embedding a more strategic framework. The discussion prompted thoughtful questions around securing stakeholder buy-in, while the customer also shared how regrading staff and working with an external specialist had strengthened their organisational structure and made roles more attractive within the local market. The session left attendees with valuable ideas to consider within their own organisations.
Insights from the US
Renee Ostrander, San Joaquin County Employees’ Retirement Association’s CEO, joined the CLASS Conference to share her observations on the challenges facing the US public sector and explore one of her greatest passions: communication. Through real-world examples from SJCERA, she demonstrated how placing communication and member education at the heart of her strategy has strengthened engagement, built trust and improved outcomes for members. The session highlighted the value of clear, consistent communication in navigating change and inspired attendees to consider how similar approaches could enhance engagement within their own organisations.
To hear more from Renee Ostrander, check out our interview with her on digital transformation.
This year’s conference was a fantastic success, bringing together customers, partners and industry experts for a day of insightful discussions, knowledge sharing and collaboration. With excellent attendance throughout the event, attendees engaged in a wide range of sessions, asked thought-provoking questions and exchanged valuable experiences with peers. The conference provided valuable takeaways for both our customers and the Heywood team, helping to shape future thinking, strengthen collaboration and inform our approach to the challenges and opportunities ahead. Thank you to everyone who attended, presented and contributed to making the event such a success. We’re already looking forward to welcoming you back next year.
