Three quarters of UK companies with final salary pension schemes are considering making significant changes to them in the next three years and four out of ten are planning changes in the next year, according to new research from actuarial firm Aon Consulting.

Measures being considered by 36% of final salary schemes still accruing benefits include increasing the level of compulsory member contributions. A fifth of companies are considering increasing retirement age in order to ease the financial burden associated with scheme provision with the figure rising to 43% within three years.