We were surprised by the extent to which the new pension remains a contentious issue for many. It’s less the perceived reduction in what is paid against the ‘old’ schemes (although there were plenty of genuinely angry comments about that) but more about when it is paid that is the issue. This is causing people to think carefully about how to fill the ‘income gap’ between leaving the Service and receiving their pension – and it’s evident that some are looking at leaving earlier than perhaps planned in order to pursue a second career to fill that gap.


‘If your work environment in the hangar is poor and then you go back to a block that’s falling apart, freezing cold and has no hot water – it makes you think what am I doing here?’


‘Lack of feeling valued/rewarded for effort expended.’


‘The benefits are reducing, the pension has got worse, the ability to achieve qualifications to apply for early increases in pay has been taken away. Pay has been frozen for a lot of people, promotion is poor.’


‘I am currently unsure what I wish to do, I am keeping a close eye on the jobs market to see if there is better for me…I feel undervalued within my trade and that we are being given more work with less personnel to complete it with no increase in pay and conditions.’


‘I do not feel valued as an Engineer Officer. The branch is increasingly being civilian contracted- out to pers being paid significantly more. I am paid the same as a non-grad officer despite a requirement for me to hold an accredited engineering degree and go for professional recognition which is costly.’


‘Undervalued - particularly as a single person.’


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