Breaking news: Durham University halts annual pay rewards amid financial pressures 

By Isla Mustin

Durham University has announced it will not issue annual pay rewards to staff this year due to ongoing financial pressures. 

In an email sent on behalf of Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Professor Mike Shipman, staff were informed that the annual reward process would be paused. This includes Exceptional Contribution Payments (ECPs), Discretionary Awards (DAs) and the Merit Reward scheme. 

This measure affects both Professional Services and academic staff, excluding employees of independent colleges including St John’s and St Chad’s. 

“We understand this decision will be disappointing but hopefully not surprising in the current financial context,” the message stated. 

This decision follows 200 University employees in professional services accepting the offer of voluntary severance, contributing to a £14 million in savings against a two-year goal of £15 million. 

These cuts are part of the University’s effort to address a £7.96 million operating deficit in the 2023/24 academic year, and to meet a £20 million savings target across professional services and academic departments. 

While the savings for professional services is close to meeting their goal, the University acknowledged in the email it had “a considerable way to go” in reaching the £5 million academic staff savings target. 

To meet this, voluntary severance for academic staff remains open until June 6th, and the university reiterates its efforts to achieve the remaining target savings through voluntary means. 

The University has not yet indicated when the reward process may resume. 

Image: Isla Mustin