partnership Pension
alpha and partnership Compared
| alpha | partnership | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of scheme | Career average (defined benefit) | Defined contribution |
| Your contribution | 4.60% – 8.05%, compulsory | Voluntary — 0% is valid |
| Employer contribution | 28.97% of pensionable pay | Age-related, plus matching up to 3% |
| What you get at retirement | A guaranteed annual pension | Whatever the invested pot is worth |
| Take-home pay impact (HEO on £38,960) | £2,489 a month | £2,631 a month at 0% |
partnership is the defined contribution alternative to alpha. Instead of building a guaranteed annual pension, you get a pot invested on your behalf, and its value at retirement depends on contributions and investment returns.
The key differences are who pays and what is guaranteed. In alpha, your contribution is compulsory at 4.60% to 8.05% and the benefit is a formula. In partnership, your own contribution is entirely voluntary — 0% is a valid choice — the employer pays an age-related contribution regardless, and will match your contributions up to a further 3%.
Because the employer contribution does not pass through your payslip, choosing partnership at 0% raises take-home pay immediately: an HEO on £38,960 would keep about £2,631 a month rather than £2,489. That is a real trade-off against a guaranteed pension, not free money.
This page explains the mechanics; it is not financial advice. The Civil Service Pensions website sets out both schemes in full, and most members remain in alpha.