What is the Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA)?
The Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) is awarded to successful candidates who bring exceptional skills and experience to digital and data roles. RRA is assessed against the Home Office Digital and Data RRA Framework, which sets out the skills, proficiency levels, and roles eligible for this allowance.
RRA is paid in addition to your base salary. We review it regularly to make sure it reflects business priorities, market conditions, affordability, and the needs of each role. If we need to reduce or remove the allowance, we’ll normally give you three months’ notice.
Proficiency Levels
RRA is determined by your assessed proficiency level, which reflects your depth of expertise and impact in your role. The levels are:
- Practitioner: Able to apply professional knowledge and standards to a consistently high level of expertise, significantly above and beyond the norm. Proactively exploring and applying improved ways of working.
- Expert: A profession-leading expert with deep knowledge and skill within specialist area and the ability to apply this knowledge to enhance delivery and to coach others.
- Guru: An influential thought-leader, respected by peers within the department and across the wider profession and industry. Driving forward improvements and innovations with the ability to successfully apply and share knowledge in the most challenging and complex of environments.
Note: The Baseline proficiency level does not attract an RRA payment.
How you’ll be assessed
Your job advert will explain whether RRA is assessed at interview or after you’ve accepted a provisional offer. There are two possible routes:
1. Assessment at interview
If the job advert states that assessment takes place at interview, you’ll be evaluated against the Home Office Digital and Data RRA Framework during the selection process.
The interview panel will assess your evidence and responses against the six core skills for the role and grade. They’ll recommend a proficiency level (Practitioner, Expert, or Guru), which is then reviewed and approved by the relevant Head of Role.
- If you’re assessed at Baseline, you won’t receive RRA.
- If you’re assessed at Practitioner, Expert, or Guru, the allowance you receive will be based on the framework.
2. Assessment after a provisional offer
If assessment takes place after interview, you’ll be invited to complete an online Capability and Skills Assessment (CaSA) once you’ve accepted a provisional offer.
CaSA is a structured self-assessment of the six defined skills listed in the job advert. A Head of Role will review your submission and confirm your proficiency level and the corresponding RRA value for your role and grade.
Candidates assessed at Baseline aren’t eligible for RRA.
Base pay
- External candidates joining the Civil Service start at the minimum of the pay band range.
- Current Civil Servants will have their base pay set using the usual rules for transfers or promotions.
If the role attracts RRA, this allowance is paid on top of your base salary.
How RRA values are set
RRA values are defined for each role and grade in the Home Office Digital and Data RRA Framework as shown in the tables below. Your allowance is based on your assessed proficiency level and the evidence you provide through the interview process or CaSA.
Architecture Cluster
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| SEO | £2,500 | £5,200 | £7,300 |
| G7 | £4,261 | £7,102 | £9,950 |
| G6 | £5,100 | £8,560 | £12,000 |
Cyber Security Cluster
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £3,000 | £4,000 | £5,000 |
Data Cluster
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £2,500 | £3,000 | £4,000 |
| SEO | £2,500 | £5,200 | £7,300 |
| G7 | £4,261 | £7,102 | £9,950 |
| G6 | £5,100 | £8,560 | £12,000 |
Delivery Cluster
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £3,000 | £4,000 | £5,000 |
| SEO | £3,000 | £6,250 | £8,300 |
| G7 | £4,500 | £8,500 | £11,300 |
| G6 | £5,500 | £10,250 | £13,700 |
Engineering Cluster
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £3,000 | £4,000 | £5,000 |
IT Operations Cluster
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £3,000 | £4,000 | £5,000 |
| SEO | £3,000 | £6,250 | £8,300 |
| G7 | £4,500 | £8,500 | £11,300 |
| G6 | £5,500 | £10,250 | £13,700 |
Product Cluster
Business Analysis
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,500 |
| SEO | £2,125 | £3,000 | £5,000 |
| G7 | £2,500 | £4,000 | £6,000 |
| G6 | £3,500 | £6,000 | £9,000 |
Product Management
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| SEO | £2,125 | £3,000 | £5,000 |
| G7 | £2,500 | £4,000 | £6,000 |
| G6 | £3,500 | £6,000 | £9,000 |
Performance Analysis
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £2,500 | £3,000 | £4,000 |
| SEO | £2,500 | £5,200 | £7,300 |
| G7 | £4,261 | £7,102 | £9,950 |
| G6 | £5,100 | £8,560 | £12,000 |
QAT
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £2,500 | £3,000 | £4,000 |
| SEO | £2,500 | £5,200 | £7,300 |
| G7 | £4,261 | £7,102 | £9,950 |
| G6 | £5,100 | £8,560 | £12,000 |
User Centred Design Cluster
Content Design, Interaction Design, User Research, Accessibility & Digital Inclusion
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £1,500 | £2,000 | £2,500 |
| SEO | £2,125 | £3,000 | £5,000 |
| G7 | £2,500 | £4,000 | £6,000 |
| G6 | £3,500 | £6,000 | £9,000 |
Service Design
| Grade | Practitioner | Expert | Guru |
| HEO | £2,500 | £3,000 | £4,000 |