Industry News | CIPP launches Public Sector Pay Forum to support payroll professionals amid growing sector challenges

The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) has launched its inaugural Public Sector Pay Forum, bringing together payroll professionals and industry experts from across the UK to address the increasingly complex challenges facing the public sector payroll profession.

The launch comes at a time when public sector organisations continue to operate under significant financial pressure. Recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show UK public sector borrowing reached £23.3 billion in May 2026, the second-highest May borrowing on record, while public sector net debt stood at 95.1% of GDP, highlighting the continued pressure on public finances.

Against this backdrop, payroll professionals are expected to deliver accurate, compliant payroll while navigating evolving legislation, increasing operational complexity and growing expectations, often with limited resources.

Jason Davenport FCIPP MIoD, CEO of the CIPP, said: "Public sector payroll professionals play a vital role in ensuring millions of employees are paid accurately and on time, while maintaining compliance in an increasingly complex legislative environment. We know many organisations are balancing significant financial pressures and opportunities for professional development can become increasingly difficult to access.