National pay scale - do associate professors still get stuck if not promoted in time?

[atriskacademic]

I was promoted to associate professor in 2025. Would like to go for Prof. eventually, but am not in the biggest hurry. Am likely to make big contribution to the next REF (publications, impact case study), so tentative plan is to apply in 2030 (probably be rejected as this seems to be the pattern first time round), then reapply 2032 (when I am 54!). I am not fussed about the title as such, but don't want to get stuck on the salary scale again, i.e. not get increments. From my institution's published salary scale, it is not entirely clear whether this will happen between associate professor and full professor. I did get stuck for a year last time round, and that was annoying in a time of high inflation! Can anyone shed any light on this?

I work in a role where I see the salary negotiation. Men don't get stuck on the scales. They just negotiate up to the next pay scale without the promotion. So they are on the prof scales without the title.

If I were you I'd go for promotion 2027 and if you don't get it ask for the upper pay scales and then go again.

But if you run a good campaign in 2027 you should be good given your performance by the sounds of things.

Thanks for that! I think if I went for it in 2027 it would be rejected by default because they don't like prompting too quickly. Plus, I'd like a few years without having to think about it... and the hassle of writing the damn application! We have been told not to reapply the year after a rejection, but to leave a year's gap at least to show that there was amble room for further development. Rejection at first go is almost by default it seems.
But, perhaps, I can bring my timeline forward a bit... try 2028 or 2029 - expect rejection, and then try again with the REF headwind behind me. I had no idea that it was even possible to negotiate - thank you! That is a good idea actually!
I also really need to get better in playing the system and speaking to the promotion criteria. A colleague of mine has just been promoted to Prof. despite having hardly any research funding, even though that seems to be a huge criterion ('sustained record of funding bla bla bla...'). Funding is my achilles heel too but I seem to be able to work magic without somehow. Am strong on impact and public engagement. Don't publish loads but what I publish is in excellent journals and gets excellent ratings in internal REF trial runs.

Where I am people mostly get stuck at AP level until promotion. There are schemes for retention which rely on an assumption that promotion will happen within x number of years, but I don’t think the increase stops if no promotion follows. As @Monsterslam says, it is mostly men getting these uplifts but I’m humanities and they are few and far between for existing staff mostly given to new hires. Maybe it’s easier in STEM.

Where I work the progression at this level is open for applications once a year, except due to financial position/redundancies it’s not run since 2023. Otherwise AFAIK you’re stuck.

Thanks for that! A strategy is emerging: I might put in for promotion BEFORE the REF submission. After the (likely) rejection, I can then say, oh well, in that case, if you want me to finish up that sole-authored impact case study, you'll have to reward me adequately :-)!

Oh god, that's awful. Not for three years? Our promotion round was delayed by six months two years ago due to financial position and has stayed at that new date since then, but three years is something else. Once they reopen it, everyone will try to apply... and conseqently the success rate will likely be low I am guessing. Really sorry to hear that.

Yes it’s rubbish. Also part of the system (which they’re reportedly trying to change, but it’s vv slow) - is that if you’re a researcher, on the equivalent pay scale to lecturer, there is no pathway or process to go up to the next level: just doesn’t exist.

I have been 'stuck' for at least 10 years...