In just three weeks' time the biggest ever overhaul of UK workplace pensions will take effect, yet many people are still in the dark about what's happening and what it will mean for their financial future.

NEST will be launched on the 1st October - it's a new scheme that will see workers over the age of 22 earning more than £8,105 a year automatically enrolled into a workplace pension by their employer.

It's not compulsory, and you can opt out; however, as it will give you an easy way to start saving for your financial future whilst benefiting from pension contributions from your employer, joining is likely to be a smart move if you don't yet have any retirement savings.

Only those working for large companies will be invited to join at first, with smaller companies rolling it out at some point over the next 5 years.

Read our guide NEST Pensions: Your Questions Answered to find out everything you need to know about auto-enrolment and speak to your employer to find out their plans for your company.

What else is happening?

The government are to launch a 'business bank' that will lend to small companies

The initiative is their latest bid to help boost the UK economy. Exact details have yet to be confirmed but there is speculation that smaller High Street banks including The Co-operative Bank, Aldermore and Handelsbanken will play a central role in the development and implementation of the government-backed institution.

Super-fast 4G mobile broadband will be available in 16 UK cities by the end of the year

Everything Everywhere, the only network currently able to offer 4G, are already testing the service in London, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol, and plan to make it available across the UK by 2014.

96% of school children want to be taught how to manage their money

However, 84% don't feel their school is doing enough to show them how according to a new report by two children's education charities - the NCB and PFEG. Together they've developed a toolkit that school children and parents can use to campaign for financial education at a local level. It's called 'Our Money Our Future' and is available from either charity's website.

The Financial Ombudsman received almost 1,500 complaints about PPI mis-selling a day

That's according to figures for the first 6 months of this year. It's struggling to keep up with appeals from consumers who have had claims for PPI compensation turned down by their banks and is having to take on extra staff as a result.

Planning regulations could soon be relaxed to make home improvement and development easier

The government have launched a 3 year consultation during which they'll look at the implication of allowing people to extend homes and commercial properties without planning permission as well as other measures they hope will reinvigorate the housing market and help first time buyers on the ladder.