TranslatePayscales and Pay Deal
Increase in National Living Wage (NLW) from 1st April 2025
In October 2024, the Government announced an increase to the NLW effective from 1st April 2025 to £12.21.
Band 2 Pay Scale:
As a result of the increase in the NLW, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has increased the Band 2 pay scale from £23,615p.a. to £24,169 p.a.
Band 3 Pay Scale:
The DHSC has also agreed to increase the first two pay points of the Band 3 pay scale from £24,071p.a. to £24,625 p.a. to maintain the differentials with the top of the Band 2.
Please note the maximum pay point of Band 3 is unaffected.
Please view the Interim English pay scale document.
Impacted colleagues will receive tailored communications from Pay Support via email by 31st March 2025.
If you wish to read further background on the national living wage and how this is being addressed, please view the National Living Wage Frequently Asked Questions and visit the NHS Employers website.
For further information on changes to Agenda for Change (AfC)/NHS Terms and Conditions
Which Agenda for Change (AfC)/NHS Terms and Conditions are you looking for?
England
In July 2024 the government announced the 2024/25 pay award for all Agenda for Change staff on NHS terms and conditions in England.
The deal will see a 5.5% consolidated uplift with affect from 1st April 2024.
Colleagues can expect to receive their pay in October 2024, this will also include a backdated payment to 1 April 2024.
Intermediate Pay Points - Band 8 and above
The pay deal will also see the addition of an intermediate pay point at each of bands 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and 9 with affect from 1st April 2024.
Payment for affected colleagues has been paid in November salaries. These changes can be viewed in the 2024 Payscale.
Devolved Administrations
Please note: the 2023 pay award for our colleagues in Northern Ireland is yet to be confirmed. As soon as NHSBT is informed of any pay award agreement for Northern Ireland we will communicate the details to colleagues as soon as possible.
Scotland
Reduction of working week
The Scottish Government have agreed a reduction of the working week for Agenda for Change staff working in NHS Scotland. This change is effective from 1 April 2024 and sees a standard working week of 37.5 hours reducing to 37 hours per week.
Pay for colleagues will remain unaffected by this change and all affected colleagues have been contacted.
Pay Deal 2024/25
The Scottish Government have agreed a 5.5% pay uplift effective from 01 April 2024. Colleagues will receive payment in November.
The recently updated Scottish 2024 pay circular contains full details of this change to working hours and the 2024 Pay deal.
Wales
The Welsh Government has agreed their 2024 pay award, which is an increase to all payscales of 5.5% effective from April 2024.
The Welsh pay circular for 2024/25 pay award is now available.
An overview of the pay scales including incremental points is now available.
Northern Ireland
The Northern Irish Government has now agreed the 2024 pay award which is effective from 1 June 2024.
Colleagues will receive payment in their March 2025 Salaries.
The Northern Ireland 2024 pay circular contains the new payscales.
Medical Staff
The 2024 Medical pay circular is now available.
