Scheme employers
To be able to join the LGPS, you must work for an employer that offers membership of the Scheme. The LGPS is offered by local government employers and by other organisations that have chosen to participate in the Scheme. If you are employed by:
- a designating body, such as a town or parish council, or
- a non-local government organisation which participates in the LGPS as an admission body
you can only join if your employer nominates you for membership.
Local government
Local government employment in this context includes:
- civilian staff of police and fire authorities
- coroners
- civil servants engaged in probation provision
- a conservation board
- a valuation tribunal
- a passenger transport authority
- the Environment Agency
- non-teaching employees of an academy
- an Education Action forum
- a sixth form college corporation
- a Higher Education corporation.
Designating bodies
Designating bodies are employers that can nominate employees for access to the LGPS, Designating bodies include:
- town and parish councils
- voluntary schools
- foundation schools
- foundation special schools
- federated schools
- technical institutes
- Transport for London
- the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.
If you work for a designating body, your employer can nominate you for membership of the LGPS.
Admission bodies
An admission body is an employer that chooses to participate in the LGPS under an admission agreement. Admission bodies are generally:
- charities, or
- contractors – usually where a school or a council has contracted out a service to a non-local government employer.
If you work for an admission body, your employer can nominate you for membership of the LGPS.