[UK] Performance-related pay for senior civil servants rewards “the doers not the talkers”

On May 21, the UK Government published its response to the recommendations of the independent Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) on pay for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) for 2026-27, GOV.UK reports.

It said, “In light of the overall constraints posed by the current affordability context, as well as fairness with the wider public sector, the Government will increase the overall SCS paybill by 3.5%. On base pay, this will be a 2.5% increase, rather than the 3.5% recommended by the SSRB.”

For the very first time, the Government has reportedly introduced performance-based pay progression for the SCS. It will see those who deliver for the public at an “exceptional level” rewarded with salary hikes. 

To deliver this, 1 per cent of the total SCS paybill will be allocated to the performance-related progression approach.

Darren Jones - the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister - confirmed changes to SCS pay to reward “the doers, not the talkers”.

Mr Jones said, “The Prime Minister has called for a complete rewiring of the state. 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.

“Today, the Government has followed through, confirming 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 and is just one of the many steps the Government is taking to modernise the system to make sure what happens in Westminster is followed through to the streets, schools and livelihoods of people in every part of the country. Our job as Ministers is to give civil servants the tools and support they need, so that together, we can build a Britain that is richer, fairer and stronger.”

In addition, Civil Service pay processes have reportedly been streamlined to make it easier for managers to request pay flexibility for specialist roles to help attract and retain the technical skills needed for effective delivery and embedding technology and innovation in the public sector.

Source: GOV.UK

(Quotes via original reporting)

On May 21, the UK Government published its response to the recommendations of the independent Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) on pay for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) for 2026-27, GOV.UK reports.

It said, “In light of the overall constraints posed by the current affordability context, as well as fairness with the wider public sector, the Government will increase the overall SCS paybill by 3.5%. On base pay, this will be a 2.5% increase, rather than the 3.5% recommended by the SSRB.”

For the very first time, the Government has reportedly introduced performance-based pay progression for the SCS. It will see those who deliver for the public at an “exceptional level” rewarded with salary hikes. 

To deliver this, 1 per cent of the total SCS paybill will be allocated to the performance-related progression approach.

Darren Jones - the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister - confirmed changes to SCS pay to reward “the doers, not the talkers”.

Mr Jones said, “The Prime Minister has called for a complete rewiring of the state. 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.

“Today, the Government has followed through, confirming 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 and is just one of the many steps the Government is taking to modernise the system to make sure what happens in Westminster is followed through to the streets, schools and livelihoods of people in every part of the country. Our job as Ministers is to give civil servants the tools and support they need, so that together, we can build a Britain that is richer, fairer and stronger.”

In addition, Civil Service pay processes have reportedly been streamlined to make it easier for managers to request pay flexibility for specialist roles to help attract and retain the technical skills needed for effective delivery and embedding technology and innovation in the public sector.

Source: GOV.UK

(Quotes via original reporting)