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Just Retirement

Rebuilding confidence in platform delivery with structure, visibility, and control.

When Just Retirement entered the SIPP platform market, it required a new way of working, shifting from in-house development to reliance on a third-party technology provider. After an initial launch under regulatory pressure, gaps in QA, governance, and delivery oversight became clear. AheadMG stepped in to restructure the testing operation, restore control, and rebuild confidence, fast.

The background

Following UK pension reforms, Just Retirement made a strategic move into the Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) platform space using GBST’s Composer system. This shift, from in-house development to third-party integration, introduced significant operational and cultural change.

The initial launch was delivered under intense regulatory deadlines, but the organisation soon faced mounting delivery pressures. The QA process lacked structure. Defect visibility was limited. Coordination between internal teams and the supplier was inconsistent.

To move forward, Just Retirement needed better control over platform delivery, starting with QA, release governance, and supplier alignment.

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The challenge

AheadMG was engaged to stabilise and rebuild the QA and release function, ensuring future platform deliveries were structured, predictable, and compliant.

It quickly became clear that the issues extended beyond testing. Governance gaps, unclear release ownership, and fragmented supplier integration were affecting delivery confidence across the business.

The scope expanded to include:

  • Ownership of release planning
  • Control of test environments
  • Clear communication between business, IT, and third-party teams

Project Snapshot

Company
Just Retirement
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Industry
Financial Services
Project duration
9 months
Services provided
QA strategy, platform governance, defect management, release control
Core tools used
Quality Centre, Serena Business Mashups
Key results
- Unified release plan with full auditability
- Continuous regression testing across workflows
- Aligned defect tracking with third-party systems
- Governance established via Platform Acceptance Group
- Real-time reporting on tests and defects
- Controlled, repeatable release cycles with clear ownership

Our Solution

AheadMG stepped in to structure and lead the entire QA function for the programme. Throughout the project, we delivered three core outcomes:

We implemented a unified approach to QA that aligned business workflows, platform logic, and supplier delivery.

  • Defined a new, practical QA strategy fit for the delivery model
  • Designed a consistent, traceable defect management proces
  • Built an end-to-end regression framework based on real-world business usage

We introduced formal governance to ensure platform changes were planned, accountable, and auditable.

  • Established a Platform Acceptance Group overseeing all releases
  • Aligned business, IT, and supplier stakeholders under a single governance structure
  • Created a unified release plan with clear roles and responsibilities

We helped Just Retirement operate in lockstep with its supplier by aligning tools, processes, and communication.

  • Streamlined defect tracking across internal and supplier systems (Quality Centre)
  • Introduced reconciliation processes for a single source of defect truth
  • Ensured testing, tracking, and resolution operated in the same ‘currency’

The impact

AheadMG helped Just Retirement transform its reactive, fragmented testing model into a structured and transparent delivery function.

Results delivered:

  • A unified platform release plan with full environment control
    Continuous regression testing aligned to key business workflows
  • A central governance group overseeing testing and releases
  • Fully reconciled defect tracking between client and supplier
  • Real-time reporting for test and defect activity
  • A “test once” approach with clear control of code and release cycles

Today, platform testing is aligned with industry best practices and fully tailored to meet the business’s specific needs.

”The implementation of a third-party solution was a departure from the core strengths of Just Retirement’s Change functions. In order to quickly establish new working practices to cope with this new dynamic, we engaged the services of AheadMG, as specialists in testing but with a particular insight into how the package works. We allowed AheadMG to steer the direction to be taken, and I feel we are now strongly positioned to continue responding to the demands of our business. AheadMG proved to be a strong and collaborative partner and I would not hesitate to engage them again should the opportunity arise.

Pete SovegjartoDirector of IT & Live Sciences