The Power Of Face To Face

Never Fully Dressed Case Study 

In March, CEO Malcolm Lyons and Client Relationship Director, Caroline Masterton joined around 40 employees at the Never Fully Dressed studio to introduce their new employee benefits programme. 

While topics such as pensions, healthcare and financial wellbeing are essential parts of the employment offer, they are not always easy to land, particularly in a way that feels relevant, engaging and accessible to employees. 

This session reinforced something we see consistently across our client work: when it comes to complex and long-term benefits like pensions, face-to-face delivery still has a unique and measurable impact. 

Making the “invisible” benefit feel real 

Pensions are one of the most valuable benefits an employer provides, but also one of the most misunderstood. For many employees, they sit in the background, important in theory, but rarely understood in practice. 

Face-to-face sessions change that dynamic. 

By bringing people together in a room, abstract concepts such as retirement planning, investment growth and employer contributions become tangible. Instead of being something employees “will deal with later”, pensions become something they can see, question and understand in the moment.

It also highlights that they’re not alone when it comes to having questions and needing more information. 

Research and industry insight consistently shows the impact of this approach. Employers delivering in-person pension presentations have reported that up to 70% of attendees subsequently increase their contributions¹, highlighting just how powerful engagement can be when information is delivered directly and personally. 

Driving engagement and real action 

One of the biggest challenges in employee benefits is not access, it’s action. 

Topics like pensions, where concepts such as tax relief, salary exchange and long-term investment growth can easily feel distant or overly complex, in-person delivery helps simplify this, turning technical language into practical understanding, and importantly, helping employees move from passive awareness to active decision-making. 

Trust, clarity and confidence 

Another key benefit of face-to-face engagement is trust. 

With increasing media awareness of pension scams and a general overload of digital information, employees are often cautious about what they read or receive online. Meeting a trusted presenter in person helps build confidence and reassurance that digital channels alone often cannot replicate. 

It also allows for a more human conversation. Presenters can read the room, adapt explanations based on understanding, and support employees at different life stages, from those just starting out in their careers to those approaching retirement. 

This ability to personalise the conversation in real time is what makes in-person delivery so effective. 

Breaking down complexity 

Face-to-face sessions allow us to strip away jargon and reframe information in a way that is clear and relatable. They also help normalise conversations that are often avoided in everyday workplace settings. 

Rather than being a technical or intimidating subject, pensions become part of a broader, open discussion about future planning, financial confidence and long-term wellbeing. 

A Gen Z workforce with a long-term mindset 

A notable aspect of the session with Never Fully Dressed was the demographic of the audience, a largely Gen Z workforce. 

There is often an assumption that younger, digitally native employees prefer purely online communication. While digital tools absolutely have their place, what we saw was a strong appetite for deeper understanding when it comes to financial wellbeing. 

This generation is highly engaged with the idea of planning early, investing in their future, and making informed decisions about value-added benefits. The level of engagement during the session reflected that, with active participation, thoughtful questions, and genuine interest in how the benefits applied to them personally. 

It was a clear reminder that digital preference does not replace the need for human explanation, particularly when the subject matter has long-term financial implications. 

Better engagement, better retention 

Ultimately, the purpose of these sessions is not just engagement, it is impact. 

When employees fully understand the value of their benefits, they are more likely to feel supported, valued and connected to their employer. This has a direct influence on how people perceive their overall reward package and their long-term relationship with the organisation. 

Face-to-face engagement helps strengthen that connection. By making complex benefits clearer and more personal, it reinforces the employer’s investment in their people, supporting not only better understanding, but also stronger staff retention and motivation. 

Our perspective 

At Parallel, we believe employee benefits should never be passive. They should be understood, valued and actively used. 

This session reinforced the importance of human connection in delivering that outcome. While digital tools and platforms remain essential for accessibility and ongoing support, face-to-face engagement continues to be unmatched in building trust, clarity and meaningful action. 

Client feedback 

“Parallel has been an excellent partner in supporting the launch of our employee benefits programme. The session delivered by Malcolm was clear, professional and highly engaging, helping to simplify topics such as pensions and ensuring the information felt relevant and accessible to our team. 

The feedback from employees was extremely positive, with many valuing the opportunity to better understand their benefits and future planning options. We appreciate Parallel’s expertise, professionalism and genuine commitment to helping us support our people.” 

Victoria May, Office Manager, Never Fully Dressed 

Final thought 

In a workplace increasingly shaped by digital communication, this session was a timely reminder that some of the most important conversations still benefit from being held in person. When it comes to helping people understand and value their future, face-to-face still makes the difference. 

For more information on pension solutions and how we can support your organisation with employee benefits engagement, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Client Relationship Director, Caroline Masterton: caroline.masterton@parallel-eb.co.uk | 020 8877 8306 

1. Source: http://www.peoplespension.co.uk/guides-and-insights/latest-updates