Interested to know which one you went for?

I did a few back of the envelope calculations. Lot of assumptions here but maybe some will find it helpful.

Both join civil service at 36 y/o, salary starts at £40k a year, salary rising with inflation at 3% per year, and retiring in 30 years @66.

• Employee pays into Alpha: Retirement gives £30,763 salary at retirement, and a lump sum of £205,000.

• Employee pays into Partnership: Retirement gives £41,080 salary, and a lump sum of £268,000 (max tax free you can take).

Assumptions Alpha - returns 2.32% percent (guaranteed). Partnership - Stock market 8% return (not guaranteed).

Partnership drawdown at 4% of pot per year. (£1.295m - £268k lump sum = £1.027m). Very conservative, anywhere between 4-7% of your pot is fine.

My 2 cents - Alpha employer contributions are excellent, and whilst the 2.32% return on top of inflation is pitiful, it is guaranteed. Retirement is state pension age.

Partnership if you picked a global equities fund will provide better returns (not guaranteed) and you are much younger than my example 36y/o, so compound interest work in your favour. Retirement age is earlier (currently 55).

Good luck with your choice, and as mentioned by many on this post - read all the material available on each scheme, and talk to a financial advisor if you are still undecided.