University agrees new pay structure

The University pay scale has been revised to provide higher starting salaries in some grades and allow more opportunities for pay progression – with benefits for colleagues in lower pay grades.

The changes follow the National Living Wage increase earlier this year, which meant an uplift in pay for many colleagues in Grades 1 and 2. This squeezed our pay grades and meant limited opportunities for pay progression in these grades.

Recognising the current cost-of-living challenges which especially impact colleagues in Grades 1-5, we have worked with the Staff Forum, and with the support and agreement of UCU, to revise the grade structure.

The changes mainly affect Grades 1-5, with a small change at Grade 6. They represent an investment from the University in colleagues who work in important roles in these grades.

The changes mean a large number of colleagues will receive higher-than-expected salary increases in August this year, as their spinal point is aligned into the new structure. Some colleagues will not receive an increase immediately but will have more opportunities for progression within their grade

No colleagues will see a reduction in pay.

The revised pay structure comes into effect on 1 August 2024.

The national cost of living pay award for 2024/25 is separate to these changes and has not yet been finalised.

Colleagues who will see a change in their spinal point will receive written communication from HR in the next week to explain the change and how it impacts them.

How will the change affect me?

• Grade 1 colleagues: The National Living Wage increase means the first spinal point in the pay structure is spinal point 8. Grade 1 will therefore be removed and all staff in this grade will move to Grade 2.
• Grade 2-5 colleagues: Changes to grade boundaries mean some colleagues will move spinal point from August. These colleagues will receive direct communication of this change. These changes will incorporate the incremental changes which also take place in August. For others, the changes will mean further opportunities for progression within their grade.
• Grade 6 colleagues: Only those on spinal point 27 will see a change – moving to spinal point 28 in August, in lieu of their normal incremental rise for 2024/25. All other Grade 6 colleagues will be unaffected and receive their normal incremental pay increase in October or on the anniversary of their appointment.
• Colleagues on contribution points: Some colleagues are on contribution points, which are spinal points above the normal grade range and recognise excellent performance. Where a contribution point now falls into the normal grade range, colleagues will again be eligible for incremental progression. Where a spinal point remains in the contribution points in the new pay structure, there will be no change.
• All other colleagues: If your spinal point remains within your current pay grade in the revised pay structure, you will see no change this August but will benefit from improved pay progression opportunities. There is no change for colleagues in Grade 7 or 8.

If you are still unsure about how this change affects you, please speak to your line manager.

New pay spine