2017-18 Pay Award Implementation

Published: 14 August 2017

A message from HR Director Christine Barr about this year's pay award.

The following has been issued to staff by Christine Barr, Director of Human Resources

Dear Colleagues

I am pleased to confirm that the annual national pay negotiations between UCEA, the employers’ organisation (representing HE employers) and the recognised Trades Unions have concluded and we are now proceeding to implement a pay uplift of 1.7% with effect from 1 August 2017. This follows acceptance of the final pay offer by four of the five recognised Trade Unions: UCU, UNISON, Unite and GMB. The EIS has yet to report on the outcome of consultation with their members earlier in the summer.

This is welcome news and full credit to our negotiators, both Trade Unions and employers, who have worked hard to conclude these pay discussions in a constructive and progressive way avoiding protracted dialogue, thereby enabling early implementation of the award.

The 1.7% uplift will be applied to all spinal points of our pay scale above scale point 15, with additional loading for spinal points 3 to 14 in ongoing efforts to address the salary differential within our lower grades. Spinal point 2 will remain unchanged for now as it was increased to the minimum National Living Wage rate in November 2016. This may be subject to change when the National Living Wage is reviewed again in November, at which time we are committed to implementing the new rate for colleagues affected within this grade.

The pay award will be applied from the beginning of this month and will be reflected in payslips at the end of August. Details of the updated pay scales can be found on the HR webpages.

Christine Barr
Director of Human Resources
on behalf of the Senior Management Group


First published: 14 August 2017