Contribution Reward Scheme

The University of Cambridge operates an annual Contribution Reward Scheme for Academic-Related and Assistant staff in grades 1 to 11. The information below and on the following pages refers to the scheme with effect from 1 January 2024.

As part of the scheme, eligible employees may apply for either a contribution increment(s) or a single contribution payment in each annual exercise. These awards are described below.

Contribution Increments (for sustained/ongoing contribution)

This is the award of up to three additional increments (in the normal pay range or in the contribution point range, i.e. the starred points) to recognise an individual's personal contribution over and above the normal expectation for the role, over a period of at least a year and in the context of expected continuation at that level.

To be eligible to apply for Contribution Increments, employees must:

• be an Academic-Related or Assistant staff member in grades 1 to 11; and
• have not yet reached the maximum contribution point for their grade; and
• have been in their current role and grade for at least one year prior to 1 January 2024; and
• be employed at the point the award is paid (i.e. employees who have left the University, or are due to leave the University prior to 15 March, are no longer eligible to receive an award); and
• not be applying for a Single Contribution Payment under the scheme

Single Contribution Payments (for one-off/time limited contribution)

This is the award of a one-off, non-pensionable payment to recognise exceptional contribution, over and above the normal expectation for the role, in the context of a one-off task or project that is time limited.  Awards can be made on an individual basis, paid at 3% of base salary, or on a team basis (where the one-off task/project is a result of the joint efforts and combined achievements of two or more individuals), paid at 2% of base salary.

It should be noted that the Single Contribution Payments are not to be used to reward temporary acting-up to a higher grade, which should be recompensed through an Additional Responsibility Payment.

To be eligible to apply for Single Contribution Payments employees must:

• be an Academic-Related or Assistant staff member in  in grades 1 to 11 (at any point in their grade, including the top contribution point); and
• have been in their current role and grade for at least 3 months prior to 1 January 2024; and
• be employed at the point the Single Contribution Payment is paid (i.e. employees who have left the University, or are due to leave the University prior to 15 March, are no longer eligible to receive an award); and
• not be applying for a Contribution Increment under the scheme

Guidance documents

Guidance documents for the following groups have been created:

• Eligible employees
• Line Managers of eligible employees

The Reference documents page also contains the application forms and cost calculators.

Launching the scheme

The Contribution Reward Scheme will be launched by email from the Director of Human Resources, to Awarding Authorities.  Eligibility listings and MI will be distributed to Awarding Authorities and Institutions shortly after the launch email.

Awarding Authorities then need to set their own timeframes, and communicate the launch to Institutions, who in turn will set deadlines for applications to be submitted. 

Once Institutions have decided on the deadlines, they will communicate with staff (using the template letters), informing them of the launch and the relevant deadlines. 

Timeframes for 2024 scheme