New job dilemma

[AWorkQuestion]

Please help me figure this out!

I'm currently almost half-way through a fixed term contract, with around 6 months remaining on the term. LM has always been keen to make the role permanent but HOD has said she can make no promises and we have to see how it goes. There should have been a second person taken on shortly after me but funding fell through for that hire. I quite like the job, but it can be VERY stressful at times. I have regular travel to other offices, some of which are quite far away, which I really don't like (wasn't mentioned on the job advert - wouldn't have applied if it had been). There are opportunities to learn new skills on the job (by joining projects/small teams where there is a need for extra resource) but currently no budget for formal training. No clear progression route within the team.

Meanwhile I have been offered another permanent position elsewhere. The pay is ~£5K lower but there are opportunities for formal industry-standard training, internal progression and bonuses. I can get by on the lower salary but will definitely be less comfortable, so would be aiming to progress internally as quickly as possible.

Both roles are public sector.

My feeling is that the permanent job is a better choice than the contract position that MAY become permanent. But the difference in pay is noticeable and I'm banking a lot on the opportunities for progression internally in the new job, which - let's be honest - are sometimes overstated a bit when trying to entice a candidate in the door.

Any thoughts?

I'd tell your current employer you've been offered the other job and see if it gives them a kick up the arse. This is the problem with jobs that rely on funding though.

If they don't offer something permanent I'd go with the lesser paid job as otherwise you might end up earning even less when your current contract expires.

The permanent one sounds like a better longer term prospect. looking at salary does that take benefits like pension into account?

I’d go for the permanent role. However I took a similar pay cut into a permanent role and am now considering a move to a fixed term post to boost my salary. Once you’ve earned more it is quite hard to step down. Lower pay if everything else is great - fine, but increased stress as well? No thanks.

The pension is slightly better in the permanent role, plus there are bonus schemes (not guaranteed of course, but they don't exist at all in my current FTC role) and no issue of long commutes to far away offices!

I'd expect the permanent role to be less stressful, but then I didn't expect my current role to be as stressful as it is!