Research Contribution Exercise January 2015

Dear Colleague,

Unestablished research staff: termly exercise for the awarding of contribution increments after appointment

1. Applications are invited for the next termly round of contribution increments for research and comparable staff. Requests should reach me no later than 12 December 2014. Awards approved in this round, under the authority of the HR Committee, will take effect from 1 January 2015. 
    
2. Heads of Institutions should complete the enclosed form, stating the number of contribution increments being sought, confirming funds are available to meet the cost and submit appropriate statements in support of each request. These should either be on the basis of outstandingly good work achieved by the member of staff in comparison with others of the same grade, for which some additional recompense is appropriate; or on the basis of the need to retain the specialist skills possessed by a particular member of staff who would otherwise be likely to seek a more highly paid appointment elsewhere. Please ensure that this exercise is communicated to all eligible research staff in your institution.
    
3. Up to 3 contribution increments may be awarded to an individual in any one year, provided that the value of the individual’s basic salary and contribution increments does not exceed the value of the top contribution point of the relevant grade. Retrospective awards may be made for the previous term only.
    
4. For pre FEC (Full Economic Costing) grants you are reminded that the arrangements for cash limiting of Research Council grants does not include any contingency provision for contribution increments. Therefore, if any contribution increments are recommended for staff supported from Research Council grants, the cost will have to be met either within the salary provision already available for the grant or by transfer of the required amount from other headings. Funds transferred into the salary heading must carry the appropriate indirect cost charge. This does not apply to FEC grants as they are unaffected by virement for staff costs.
    
5. Please note that Heads of Institution may send their nominations as an e-mail attachment and may authorize a recognised representative to make nominations in their absence. Any queries should be directed to me.

Following the closing date for submissions, Institutions and individuals will be notified directly in writing whether their application has been successful or not.

Please could I request that:

• for nominations sent by UMS the envelope is marked with 'Research Contribution Exercise'
• if emailing the nomination that ‘Research Contribution Exercise’ is included in the subject and that you email Liz.Timperley-Preece@admin.cam.ac.uk and copy in Susan.Wilson@admin.cam.ac.uk.

To ease administration of the exercise please could I ask you to note the following:

• Please use the attached form only not an older version.

• Please only fill in the funding if the contribution increment is to be funded from a different grant/account than the person is currently paid from.
   

Yours sincerely,

Liz Timperley-Preece
Head of Recruitment