Pay for Grades B, C and D
Following the November 2025 increase to the Foundation Living Wage, which created an overlap between Grade C and Grade D, between December 2025 and February 2026 the University reviewed pay grades B, C, and D in consultation with campus trade unions Unite, Unison and UCU.
This page shares proposals for changes to future arrangements for determining pay levels up to Grade D, bringing greater clarity between the grades, in the context of the need for long term financial sustainability.
There are tabs below outlining the proposed changes for Grades B, C and D, and we’ve answered some questions below.
We want to reassure you that no colleagues will see a reduction in their basic salary.
Summary of changes
Pay:
Many colleagues in Grade D will see an increase to their pay, and the proposals also add an additional higher payscale point for Grade D.
The first point on our pay grades (L1 in Grade B) will continue to track the Foundation Living Wage (FLW).
It is proposed that other points in Grades B and C will be aligned to higher points on the national payspine and receive increases that have been nationally negotiated through the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES).
However, if the Foundation Living Wage (FLW) or current (2025) local rates are higher than the JNCHES salary points, then the higher rate would be paid.
Dates for annual pay uplifts:
Under our proposals, all colleagues paid above the Foundation Living Wage, whatever their grade, will be aligned to the same date for pay uplifts. This provides consistency and fairness and allows time for improved financial planning.
Once the outcome of the national pay negotiations is known and finalised, it is proposed that the annual uplift for all staff in Grades B to H will be implemented in the same payroll month (the implementation date). This will usually be in August each year, but may be later if the JNCHES uplift implementation is delayed.
For colleagues paid the FLW rate, this means that (if the 2026/27 national uplift is implemented in August 2027) the increase to the FLW announced by the Living Wage Foundation in Autumn 2026 would be implemented in1 August 2027 , with back pay from 1 April 2027.
Next steps
Our campus trade unions are consulting with their members on these proposals. If you are a member of Unison or Unite, you will be contacted by your trade union about their consultation arrangements. You can read the full text of the proposal discussed with trade unions: Proposal to amend Grades B to D
Grade B
Colleagues in Grades B and C are currently paid local rates, which are based on the Foundation Living Wage (FLW). These local rates were increased by 6.7%, due to the FLW increase in November 2025.
Proposals:
The first point on the University’s grading scheme (L1) will continue to track the Foundation Living Wage (FLW).
From 1 August 2026, other points in Grade B will be aligned to the nationally negotiated JNCHES scale as follows:
- L1: JNCHES point 12 (£24,685 + 2026/27 increase)
- L2: JNCHES point 13 (£25,249 + 2026/27 increase)
- L3: JNCHES point 14 (£25,804 + 2026/27 increase)
- L4: JNCHES point 15 (£26,093 + 2026/27 increase)
(all salary examples are full time equivalent as at February 2026)
If our 2025 local rates are higher than the corresponding JNCHES rates at August 2026 (i.e. following the implementation of the 2026/27 national pay negotiations), the 2025 local rates will continue to apply. No colleagues will see a reduction in their basic salary.
The lowest point on the pay scale will continue to track the FLW. If a future increase to the FLW means that the bottom point on the payscale becomes higher than the point above it, then that higher point will also be set at the FLW rate.
Future uplifts will normally be implemented in August each year, however it may be later if the nationally negotiated JNCHES uplift is delayed. This means that the FLW increase announced in Autumn 2026 will be paid in August 2027.
Colleagues who are paid the FLW will receive back pay to 1 April 2027. If the implementation date is delayed to later than 1 August 2027, then the effective date for back pay will also be delayed.
Colleagues in Grade B will continue to receive annual increments on 1 August each year, subject to a minimum of 6 months’ service in the grade, up to the grade maximum of L4.
Grade C
Colleagues in Grades B and C are currently paid local rates, which are based on the Foundation Living Wage (FLW). These local rates were increased by 6.7%, due to the FLW increase in November 2025.
Proposals:
From 1 August 2026, points in Grade C will be aligned to the JNCHES scale as follows:
- L5: JNCHES point 16(£26,707 + 2026/27 increase)
- L6: JNCHES point 17 (£27,319 + 2026/27 increase)
- L7: JNCHES point 18(£28,031 + 2026/27 increase)
- L8: JNCHES point 19(£28,778 + 2026/27 increase)
- L9: JNCHES point 20(£29,588 + 2026/27 increase)
(all salary examples are full time equivalent as at February 2026)
If our 2025 local rates (the FLW) are higher than the corresponding JNCHES rates at August 2026 (i.e. following the implementation of the 2026/27 national pay negotiations), the 2025 local rates will continue to apply. No colleagues will see a reduction in their basic salary.
Colleagues in Grade C will continue to receive annual increments on 1 August each year as long as they have worked a minimum of 6 months’ service in the grade, up to the grade maximum of L9.
Grade D
Proposals:
It is proposed that salary points 18, 19 and 20 in grade D are increased to £30,378.
From the first of the month following the conclusion of our local negotiations, the salary for points 18-20 will be increased to the national salary rate for point 21 (£30,378). For example, if an agreement is concluded by Tuesday, 31 March 2026, this increase would be applied from 1 April 2026.
This will mean that, from the date of implementation until 31 July 2026, Grade D will be as follows:
- point 18: £30,378
- point 19: £30,378
- point 20: £30,378
- point 21: £30,378
- point 22: £31,236
From 1 August 2026, Grade D will be as follows:
- JNCHES point 21 (£30,378 + 2026/27 JNCHES increase)
- JNCHES point 22 (£31,236 + 2026/27 JNCHES increase)
- JNCHES point 23 (£32,080 + 2026/27 JNCHES increase)
Colleagues in Grade D will continue to receive annual scale point increments on 1 August each year as long as they have worked a minimum of 6 months’ service in the grade, up to JNCHES point 23. This means that colleagues on points 18-20 will increment to point 21, colleagues on point 21 will increment to point 22 and colleagues on point 22 will increment to point 23 from 1 August 2026 (if you have worked 6 months in the grade).
JNCHES increases will be applied to Grade D from 1 August 2026.
The details can be found on Trent Self Service. Then click on your current job (under “My Employment”) - – this will take you to details about your current grade and pay.
The Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES). This is the central committee for multi-employer national negotiations and dialogue on pay and pay-related issues. Each year, JNCHES negotiates changes to the national payspine, with uplifts normally taking effect from 1 August each year.
Colleagues in Grades B and C have already received a 6.7% pay increase from November 2025. The national payscale points alignment for Grades B and C will take place from 1 August 2026 – but remember that if the FLW or the current (2025) local rates are higher, then those rates will still be paid. No one will see a reduction in their salary.
For Grade D colleagues who would receive an uplift to £30,378 under these proposals – this will be paid from the first of the month after our local negotiations conclude. For example, if agreement is concluded by Tuesday 31 March 2026, this increase would be applied from 1 April 2026.
National negotiations on pay levels through the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES) take place in spring and we will keep you informed of progress through the Weekly Bulletin.
Once the outcome of the national pay negotiations is known and finalised, it is proposed that the annual uplift for all staff in Grades B to H will be implemented in the same payroll month (the implementation date). This will usually be in August each year, but may be later if the JNCHES uplift implementation is delayed.
This means that, for colleagues paid on the FLW rate (L1), (if the 2026/27 national uplift is implemented in August 2027) the increase to the FLW announced by the Living Wage Foundation in autumn 2026 will be implemented in 1 August 2027, with back pay from 1 April 2027.
This is an increase on pay spend. Colleagues in Grades B and C have already received a 6.7% pay increase. Under the proposals, the salaries of colleagues on points 18 to 20 in Grade D would be increased to £30,378 and an additional spinal point (JNCHES point 23) would be added to the grade from August 2026. Altogether we expect these changes to increase the annual pay spend by around £2 million each year. The changes are already significantly over the amount that the University budgeted for the 2025/26 financial year. The University decided it is important to maintain our commitment to the FLW and will find savings from other budgets to fund these changes.
Points 18 to 20 currently overlap with the top of Grade C. The proposal is to move colleagues who are on these points up to £30,378 which is above the top of Grade C. If the proposal is agreed, this change will be implemented from the first day of the month following agreement with trade unions. This will significantly add to the University’s pay costs in the current financial year, above the additional costs arising from the 6.7% increase to the FLW and local rates in Grades B and C from November 2025. In the current context of a need to be financially sustainable, backdating the change to November 2025 is considered unaffordable.
There are no changes planned to Grade E. Grade E begins at point 25, from £33,951. Grade E colleagues can currently progress through scale point increments up to point 27, currently £35,608. Under our proposals, from August 2026 the top payscale point in Grade D will be point 23, currently £32,080, maintaining a clear differential between the top of Grade D and the first point of Grade E.
All car parking charges are being looked at as part of an overall parking review. Information on this will be provided in the coming months.
No. All points in Grade B will use the FLW or local rates if they are higher than the national pay spine points 12-15. No colleagues’ salary will go down.
We continue to support joint work at a national level to review the payspine, subject to affordability and implementation at local level. It is regrettable that the joint work planned for this year will not now take place as a consequence of trade unions’ decisions to ballot for industrial action. While recognising that the 2026/27 national pay negotiations won’t start until the spring 2026, we would support a national review being taken forward in the next pay round.
If plans for national review during 2026/27 are not clear by September 2026, then the University will engage with trade unions on what action can be taken locally recognising the current financial environment.
In addition, subject to workload priority, once the employers’ offer in the 2026/27 national pay negotiations is known, in the term three (summer 2026) the University will commence engagement with representatives of the campus trade unions to outline the principles for a potential local review.
Members of Unison and Unite will be consulted by your trade union. All colleagues are welcome to comment directly to humanresources@exeter.ac.uk or raise questions at senior team talks.