UCEA is the voice of HE employers on pensions
On 1 August 2024 UCEA took over the role of USS employer representative from UUK; we also represent HE employers in the Teachers' Pension Scheme and the Local Government Pension Scheme, and provide support for institutions that participate in the NHS Pension Scheme, or offer their own Self-Administered Trust (SAT) or the Superannuation Arrangements for the University of London (SAUL) or that offer a Defined Contribution scheme to their staff.
Current issues:
UCEA is currently lobbying the Westminster Government for support for the sector to mitigate rising employer costs relating to the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) and other schemes:
Recent correspondence with government and key stakeholders (e.g. UCU) includes:
14 April 2025
Letter from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to UCEA and UCU in response to their joint letter on the SCAPE rate of 5 February 2025
12 March 2025
Letter from Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA to James Murray MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
10 March 2025
Letter to Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA from James Murray MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
5 February 2025
UCEA and UCU joint letter to the Chief Secretary on the SCAPE rate
4 February 2025
Professor George Boyne, UCEA Chair and Raj Jethwa, UCEA's Chief Executive met with Baroness Smith. They explained the financial pressures facing most HEIs and specifically raised the issue of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and requested support for a review of HE participation. They described the significant impact of the increase in employer pension contributions for HEIs in TPS, which had been compounded by the decision to increase employer National Insurance Contributions.
4 February 2025
Letter from Rt Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith to Raj Jethwa
19 December 2024
Letter to Rt Hon Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
23 October 2024
Letter to Rt Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith Minister of State for Skills, Department for Education
16 October 2024
UCEA and UCU joint letter to the Chief Secretary on the SCAPE rate
2 September 2024
Letter to Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA, from The Rt Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Skills, Department for Education
26 July 2024
Letter from Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA, to The Rt Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister of State for Skills, Department for Education
8 July 2024
Letter from Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA and Prof. George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen and Chair of the UCEA Board, to The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, Department for Education
May 2024
Letter from Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA to Simon Hoare MP, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
16 April 2024
Letter to Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA, from Luke Hall MP, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Department of Education
28 March 2024
Letter from Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA to Jo Grady, General Secretary, University and Colleges Union
18 March 2024
Letter from Vivienne Stern MBE, CEO, UUK and Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA, to The Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Department for Education
2 January 2024
Letter to Vivienne Stern MBE, CEO, UUK and Raj Jethwa, CEO, UCEA, from The Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, Department for Education
For enquiries relating to our work in this area, please contact the team via Pensions@ucea.ac.uk
