20 May 2025
UCEA’s final pay offer is an uplift restricted by the sector’s unprecedented pressures
UCEA and the HE trade unions met on 15 May for the third and final meeting of the 2025-26 New JNCHES pay round*. UCEA has represented 138 member HE Institutions across this pay round, which began in late March, following the trade unions’ claim and the Employers’ statement**. These pay talks were particularly difficult for all, with the sector’s financial challenges and HE institutions’ sustainability concerns restricting for both sides***.
UCEA made a full and final pay offer of 1.4% and has offered to remove the bottom two pay spine points from the New JNCHES spine. This was the only prudent option open to employers, with hopes of better protecting both students and staff. This uplift is from 1 August 2025. In addition to this, around half of staff will be eligible for a pay increment up to a value of 3%, on top of the pay award.
The Office for Students (OfS) is the most recent organisation to confirm the extent of the sector’s current financial instability, as well as the increasing running costs. This is echoed across the UK HE sector.
Employers are well aware that this is the lowest pay uplift since 2020, when Covid rocked the sector’s pay round and created mass uncertainty. Instead, this year was a case of working hard to provide some uplift for valued employees. This is despite so many HE institutions facing financial deficit and difficult restructuring decisions.
UCEA has committed to a schedule of activity to progress important work to a review of the pay spine itself, and action to make meaningful progress on contract types, workloads, and pay gaps. However, the joint work would be paused if any union announced its intention to ballot for industrial action over any elements of our New JNCHES offer.
Professor George Boyne, Chair of UCEA, said:
“Across the three meetings, we have listened very carefully and discussed in detail the many elements of the trade unions’ claim. Financial pressures across the sector are a joint concern for employees and employers alike, and we appreciate the trade unions’ recognition of that. This full and final pay offer will be financially challenging for most of our HE institutions and we appreciate their support for this pay uplift.”
Raj Jethwa, UCEA’s Chief Executive said:
“Sector finances have deteriorated still further since the pay round began and the pace of change for HE institutions remains relentless.
“In these circumstances the pay uplift clearly does not reflect the true value employers place on staff. However, given the severity of the financial pressures they face, the only prudent option open to employers, to try to protect students and staff, is this pay offer. I know that trade union colleagues are also concerned by sector challenges.*** UCEA is prepared to begin work jointly with the unions on important work as set out in the previously agreed Terms of Reference. This work should commence following the successful conclusion of the 2025-26 pay round and UCEA we will bring forward a schedule for this.”
Notes
*Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES). The five HE trade unions are EIS, GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite.
The three scheduled meetings for 2025 were: 31 March, 16 April and 15 May 2025
For more information on the pay round see www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round/
The full list of HEIs participating in the 2025-26 New JNCHES pay round can be found at www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round/
** The Trade Unions’ claim can be found at www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round//
The Employers’ Statement can be found at www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round/
*** Universities under 'severe financial stress', says UCU in response to HESA and OfS data www.ucu.org.uk/article/14011/Universities-under-severe-financial-stress-says-UCU-in-response-to-HESA-and-OfS-data
UCEA’s full and final pay offer of 1.4% and has also removed the lowest of the bottom two New JNCHES pay spine points, resulting in an uplift of 2% for lowest paid staff.
There has been significant coverage relating to the increases to employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the employer contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), as well as the increasing running costs.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact - Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk) or Marc Whittaker, Public Affairs and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk).
UCEA’s final pay offer is an uplift restricted by the sector’s unprecedented pressures
UCEA and the HE trade unions met on 15 May for the third and final meeting of the 2025-26 New JNCHES pay round*. UCEA has represented 138 member HE Institutions across this pay round, which began in late March, following the trade unions’ claim and the Employers’ statement**. These pay talks were particularly difficult for all, with the sector’s financial challenges and HE institutions’ sustainability concerns restricting for both sides***.
UCEA made a full and final pay offer of 1.4% and has offered to remove the bottom two pay spine points from the New JNCHES spine. This was the only prudent option open to employers, with hopes of better protecting both students and staff. This uplift is from 1 August 2025. In addition to this, around half of staff will be eligible for a pay increment up to a value of 3%, on top of the pay award.
The Office for Students (OfS) is the most recent organisation to confirm the extent of the sector’s current financial instability, as well as the increasing running costs. This is echoed across the UK HE sector.
Employers are well aware that this is the lowest pay uplift since 2020, when Covid rocked the sector’s pay round and created mass uncertainty. Instead, this year was a case of working hard to provide some uplift for valued employees. This is despite so many HE institutions facing financial deficit and difficult restructuring decisions.
UCEA has committed to a schedule of activity to progress important work to a review of the pay spine itself, and action to make meaningful progress on contract types, workloads, and pay gaps. However, the joint work would be paused if any union announced its intention to ballot for industrial action over any elements of our New JNCHES offer.
Professor George Boyne, Chair of UCEA, said:
“Across the three meetings, we have listened very carefully and discussed in detail the many elements of the trade unions’ claim. Financial pressures across the sector are a joint concern for employees and employers alike, and we appreciate the trade unions’ recognition of that. This full and final pay offer will be financially challenging for most of our HE institutions and we appreciate their support for this pay uplift.”
Raj Jethwa, UCEA’s Chief Executive said:
“Sector finances have deteriorated still further since the pay round began and the pace of change for HE institutions remains relentless.
“In these circumstances the pay uplift clearly does not reflect the true value employers place on staff. However, given the severity of the financial pressures they face, the only prudent option open to employers, to try to protect students and staff, is this pay offer. I know that trade union colleagues are also concerned by sector challenges.*** UCEA is prepared to begin work jointly with the unions on important work as set out in the previously agreed Terms of Reference. This work should commence following the successful conclusion of the 2025-26 pay round and UCEA we will bring forward a schedule for this.”
Notes
*Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES). The five HE trade unions are EIS, GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite.
The three scheduled meetings for 2025 were: 31 March, 16 April and 15 May 2025
For more information on the pay round see www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round/
The full list of HEIs participating in the 2025-26 New JNCHES pay round can be found at www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round/
** The Trade Unions’ claim can be found at www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round//
The Employers’ Statement can be found at www.ucea.ac.uk/our-work/collective-pay-negotiations-landing/2025-26-new-jnches-pay-round/
*** Universities under 'severe financial stress', says UCU in response to HESA and OfS data www.ucu.org.uk/article/14011/Universities-under-severe-financial-stress-says-UCU-in-response-to-HESA-and-OfS-data
UCEA’s full and final pay offer of 1.4% and has also removed the lowest of the bottom two New JNCHES pay spine points, resulting in an uplift of 2% for lowest paid staff.
There has been significant coverage relating to the increases to employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the employer contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), as well as the increasing running costs.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact - Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk) or Marc Whittaker, Public Affairs and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk).
