Pension question

[CAPP0]

I'm in my 50s and have 4 employer pensions of varying sizes, amassed over my working life. Since the age of 18 I've paid into a pension every year of my working life with the exception of a short break of a couple of years about 15 years ago. Those employer pensions have all performed differently but of course have all suffered from the current financial markets.

I've been self-employed for about a year, and am about to accept an offer of a salaried role which includes a (smallish) pension. I have a small sum put aside from the last year for pension purposes (<10k) and I'm not sure what to do with it. I don't believe I can add it to any of the existing pensions as I'm no longer employed by any of those companies. Should I drop it into the new company pension (assuming I am able to do so) as a lump sum, or is there something better I can do with it?

Thanks.

[CAPP0]

Thank you, that's really useful, and much appreciated. Pensions are something of a dark art to me! I'll definitely look into those.

[CAPP0]

Thanks, I have had someone recommended to me over the weekend. Asked my existing pension providers for an up to date statement and I'll sit down with this guy once I have those.