Topics

Pay awards/rises

New and updated

  • Type:
    Editor's choice

    Coming soon

    Updated to promote our upcoming webinar on HR and reward priorities for 2026. 

  • Type:
    Economic data

    Pay awards

    Updated to include the Brightmine pay settlement data for the three months to the end of October 2025. Brightmine will publish the next pay figures on 17 December 2025. 

  • Type:
    Editor's choice

    Survey analysis and Benchmarking data: The complete list

    Updated to include new benchmarking survey data on pay awards November 2025. 

  • 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:
    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.

  • Date:
    22 October 2025
    Type:
    Editor's choice

    Compare your organisation using the new Brightmine benchmarker spreadsheets

    Available to all HR & Compliance Centre and Benchmarking - HR Metrics customers, the new benchmarker spreadsheets allow you to generate tailored insights for your organisation and see how you compare to other organisations on key metrics, from pay awards to holiday entitlement.

  • Date:
    22 October 2025
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Pay trends October 2025: Stability continues to define pay settlements

    Pay awards have now held at 3% for much of 2025 - the new normal for UK pay settlements. The latest Brightmine analysis confirms another period of steady outcomes and limited change across sectors.

  • Date:
    22 October 2025
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Forecasts for pay awards in 2025/2026

    Pay awards have been stable throughout 2025, but lower than seen in the previous two years. We now take stock of the pay setting environment and look ahead to likely activity in 2026.

  • Date:
    24 September 2025
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Review of pay awards 2025: Round-up of pay settlements 2025

    Pay awards have cooled in the last 12 months, with the majority of deals being lower than those given in the previous year. As organisations navigate tighter budgets and shifting market pressures, this report reflects on the pay awards delivered in the last year, as collected by Brightmine.

  • Date:
    24 September 2025
    Type:
    Survey analysis

    Pay trends September 2025: Pay awards remain stable with limited change

    Pay awards show little sign of movement, as the median basic settlement stays fixed at 3% over the summer. The latest analysis highlights a continuation of the stability seen throughout 2025.

About this topic

HR and legal information and guidance relating to pay awards/rises.

Pay awards/rises: key resources

Tools for pay specialists