Topics

Pay levels and awards

New and updated

  • Type:
    Legal timetable

    Fair Pay Agreement in adult social care sector

    Updated to reflect that the Employment Rights Bill received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025.

  • Date:
    17 December 2025
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Pay trends December 2025: A year of the stagnant 3%

    After a short-lived lift from public-sector pay deals in the autumn, the UK's median basic pay award has settled back to 3%, confirming 2025 as a year of flatter, more subdued pay growth than 2024.

  • Date:
    10 December 2025
    Type:
    Podcasts and webinars

    Podcast: HR priorities for 2026 - top tips for a great year

    Drawing on our latest research data, Brightmine content managers Bar Huberman and Sheila Attwood set out the key priorities for HR and reward professionals in 2026. CEO Scott Walker also joins the podcast to discuss one of the key trends of recent years - AI in the workplace.

  • Type:
    Legal timetable

    National minimum wage rates increase

     Updated to reflect the national minimum wage rates from 1 April 2026.

  • Date:
    18 November 2025
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Pay trends November 2025: Increased public-sector pay activity breaks the year's 3% trend

    After holding steady at 3% for much of 2025, the UK's median basic pay award edged up to 3.3% in the latest quarter - lifted by a wave of public-sector settlements. As employers await clarity from the Autumn Budget and a potential Bank of England interest rate cut, confidence in pay-setting remains cautious but steady.

  • Date:
    30 October 2025
    Type:
    Podcasts and webinars

    Webinar: November 2025 pay and labour market update

    Sheila Attwood, senior content manager at Brightmine, shares insights into how organisations are managing financial and labour market constraints while still rewarding employees.

  • Type:
    FAQs

    What is the living wage used by the Living Wage Foundation and how is it calculated?

    Updated to reflect increases to the "real living wage", as set by the Living Wage Foundation, from 22 October 2025. 

  • Type:
    Economic data

    ONS gender pay gap data: ASHE 2025

    Updated to include the latest headline gender pay gap data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025. The next ONS release date is November 2026. 

  • Type:
    Economic data

    ONS pay rate data: ASHE 2025

    Updated to include the latest headline pay data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025. The next ONS release date is November 2026. 

  • Date:
    22 October 2025
    Type:
    Commentary and insights

    Reward priorities in 2026

    What are UK employers prioritising when it comes to reward in 2026? We reveal the key themes emerging from our latest survey of more than 200 organisations, offering insight into how pay, benefits and recognition are set to evolve in the next year.

About this topic

HR and legal information and guidance relating to pay levels and awards.

Pay levels and awards: key resources

Tools for pay specialists