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Update on 2026-27 pay award

12 Oct 2026

2026–27 pay award to be implemented in October payroll

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Following our September 2026 update on the annual pay award, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) have confirmed that the national pay negotiations for 2026–27 have now concluded.  UCEA have advised participating universities to implement the pay uplift, and we are pleased to confirm that the University will implement the award in upcoming October payroll.

What is the 2026-27 pay award?

  • The 2026-27 pay award will mean a 2% uplift in your pay;
  • This 2% increase will be applied to all pay spine points and will be backdated to 1st August 2026. The JNCHES pay spine has been updated to reflect these changes;
  • The pay increase, including backpay, will be applied to your October 2026 salary, regardless of whether you receive your pay in the middle or at the end of the month.

Who does this apply to?

  • This pay award covers all colleagues in Grades 1–8 including any groups with pay arrangements based on the pay spine e.g. our casual pay spine
  • Although not covered by national collective bargaining, Grade 9 colleagues will also receive a 2% increase.

Some groups are subject to separate pay arrangements and are therefore not included in this award. This includes:

  • Members of the University Executive, whose pay is overseen by the Remuneration & People Committee;
  • Clinical colleagues, who are covered by the NHS pay framework.

If you're unsure whether this applies to you, please have a look at our pages on StaffNet or reach out via People Connect.

How is pay decided nationally?

Each year, pay for the higher education sector is negotiated through the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES) process. This is led by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), which negotiates on behalf of around 140 universities with the five recognised trade unions: EIS, GMB, UCU, UNISON, and Unite.

While the 2026-27 pay offer has not been accepted by the trade unions following the conclusion of dispute resolution procedures, UCEA has advised participating universities to implement the award as outlined above. Read our previous update on the 2026-27 pay award.

Your reward package 

As we deliver Manchester 2035, investing in our people remains a key priority and pay is just one part of your overall reward package. We continue to invest in broader initiatives including pensions, wellbeing, and career development – to ensure you feel supported and valued in your role.

For more information, please visit Purple Place and our Colleague Wellbeing pages. If you have any questions about this update, please check our frequently asked questions or reach out via People Connect.