If the UK’s auto-enrolment reforms are about ensuring minimum pensions for the low-paid, then Financial News’ Awards for Excellence in UK Institutional Pensions 2013 are about recognising the firms that go above and beyond these minimum standards.

With 44 nominees across nine categories - up from just under 40 last year across eight - the awards aim to recognise the best in UK pensions. Once the votes from our 55 industry judges were collated, several clear themes emerged. In the broader categories, such as Scheme of the Year and Scheme Sponsor of the Year, companies with a proactive and generous attitude to pensions were rewarded.