How a pension works, in four steps
A short learning journey with a quick check at each step.
Independent Spatial Sites concept. Not commissioned or endorsed by Royal London.
The interactive feature
Check your understanding
Each step ends with one optional question. The answer explains why, right or wrong, and nothing is scored or stored.
Figures and assumptions. The worked example uses basic-rate tax relief added by the scheme (relief at source) and labels it as an example.
The concept
- What it addresses
- How-a-pension-works leaflets and explainer material for people new to workplace pensions.
- Who it is for
- Employees who have been enrolled but have never had a pension explained.
- Their main task
- Understand how money goes in, is invested, grows and is taken later.
- The next step it offers
- Check what goes in on their payslip and find their pension details.
- Visual direction
- Four numbered steps with simple diagrams, plenty of space, and a quiet progress list at the top.
- Copy approach
- Friendly and concrete, using real amounts in a worked example and one idea per step.
Accessibility in this concept
- Steps are headed sections reachable from a contents list
- Diagrams have text descriptions
- Questions use radio buttons with feedback announced politely
- No scroll-triggered animation
Accessibility review
Automated checks passed; keyboard review done; screen reader review not yet done (checked 7 October 2026).
Our target is WCAG 2.2 AA. We do not describe a concept as meeting it until automated, keyboard and screen reader reviews are all complete.
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