Blackfinch Group launches workplace pension scheme as financial stress affects a third of UK workers 

Blackfinch Group has launched Thrive, a new workplace pension, benefits and financial wellbeing platform, as financial stress continues to undermine employee performance across the UK. 

The platform brings together workplace pensions, benefits and financial coaching in a single digital experience, aimed at helping employers support financial wellbeing without adding cost or administrative burden. Thrive is the first business to be launched from Blackfinch Group’s in-house incubator programme and is now available to UK employers. 

The launch comes as nearly a third of employees say financial stress affects their ability to concentrate and perform at work, with knock-on effects for productivity, engagement and staff retention. Despite this, most UK workers still have no access to a financial adviser through their employer. 

Developed in partnership with Smart Pension, Thrive offers a digital-first workplace pension alongside benefits and personalised financial guidance. Investment options are designed to be future-focused and aligned with government policy, while the wider platform is intended to give employees greater clarity and confidence over their finances. 

For employees, Thrive provides a single place to access pension options, workplace benefits and tailored financial guidance. For employers, the platform is positioned as a practical people and culture tool, supporting attraction and retention while reducing complexity for HR and reward teams. Financial advisers can also use Thrive to offer an integrated workplace solution to commercial clients. 

Richard Cook, founder and chief executive officer at Blackfinch Group, said financial wellbeing had become a business-critical issue rather than a discretionary benefit. 

“Financial wellbeing has moved from being a nice to have to a business-critical issue,” he said. “Employers are under real pressure to support their teams in meaningful ways, and many are looking for solutions that are simple to implement and genuinely effective. Thrive brings pensions, benefits and financial wellbeing together in one place, helping employers support their people while strengthening engagement, performance and retention.” 

The launch also reflects growing concern about financial vulnerability across the UK workforce. More than 30 million adults are considered financially vulnerable, highlighting a widening gap between employee need and the level of financial wellbeing support offered in most workplaces. 

As employers face rising expectations around staff wellbeing, financial health is increasingly seen as a core component of workplace support rather than a perk. Thrive is designed to respond to this shift by integrating pensions, benefits and financial guidance in one platform that supports both employee wellbeing and business outcomes.