Chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones has confirmed that performance-related pay progression for the senior civil service will go live this financial year – dubbing the move a reward for “the doers, not the talkers”.
The decision follows a recommendation from the Senior Salaries Review Body on the introduction of pay progression, but the over-arching pay rise for senior civil servants falls short of what the SSRB proposed.
It recommended a 3.5% average rise to base pay for senior civil servants for 2026-27. While ministers have supported the proportional increase in paybill, it will be split between a 2.5% hike for average base pay and 1% to be distributed to the highest performers, and consolidated into their salaries.
Grades below SCS level do not have a dedicated pay-review body. Instead, the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury agree remit guidance for departments. Today it was announced that this will be an average of 3.5% for 2026-27.
Jones said the new performance-related element of pay for senior civil servants would raise standards and reward officials who “go above and beyond” to deliver for the public.
“The prime minister has called for a complete rewiring of the state,” he said. “In January this year, I set out the need to reward the doers, not the talkers in the civil service. It’s pretty simple. Those who perform well should be rewarded. Those who fall short should be held to account.”
Jones added: “Our new approach will reward exceptional civil servants who go above and beyond for the public, while raising the standard we expect civil servants to meet. As a package, this represents the biggest change to senior civil service pay in decades.”
In a written statement to parliament, Jones also confirmed increases in SCS minimum pay levels for the current financial year. They are in line with the SSRB’s suggestion of a £5,000 hike in minima.
SCS pay band 1 is now £86,000 to £117,800; SCS pay band 2 is £105,000 to £162,500; and SCS pay band 3 is £135,000 to £208,100.
Lauren Crowley, assistant general secretary at the FDA union – which represents senior civil servants – welcomed the introduction of pay progression for senior officials.
“Pay systems across the civil service have been blighted by a lack of meaningful pay progression for almost two decades,” she said. “The ability to move up a pay band based on delivery, skills and experience should be a feature of any well-functioning workplace. Its absence has had detrimental consequences on morale, delivery and both attracting and retaining talent.
“The changes to senior civil service pay announced today are finally beginning to address this and have been achieved through sustained work and negotiation. However, pay progression for the rest of the civil service – the majority of our membership – has not yet been secured.
“Delivering pay progression for a much larger and varied workforce is more complex, but it is the top pay priority for this union, and we will be pursuing it with the same approach that has produced results for the senior civil service.”