Negotiations for the 1 August 2025 national pay award began in March this year between the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), on behalf of the employers and the five recognised Trade Unions. None of the Trade Unions have accepted the final offer and UCEA have informed us that the dispute resolution talks have ended and employers have been informed that they can implement the uplift.

The national pay negotiations have been particularly challenging this year and taken place at a time where many HE institutions are managing increased financial pressure, including the lower than anticipated levels of international student recruitment, the continuing decline in the real-terms value of tuition fee income from UK undergraduates and the continuing increase in costs for employers. Balancing these and other issues, UCEA believe that this is a fair and reasonable offer in the current financial climate.

The offer to be implemented comprises a 1.4% uplift to all spine points on the pay scale for grades 2-9. For eligible staff this is in addition to the around 3% pay increase for those staff entitled to pay progression in April. The spine points on the Professorial and senior staff pay scale will also receive the 1.4% pay increase. The relevant University webpages are being updated and we expect to implement with August pay.