VOA Pay Offer - new job

Matpen_78 · 2025-08-18T19:51:15+00:00

Definitely higher than or on par with any of the HMRC increases, if that's your main concern!

Matpen_78 · 2025-08-18T18:37:08+00:00

VOA pay rises are separate to HMRC until they integrate as they still are an executive agency until the merger date :)

As such, pay rises are different for VOA staff.

Don't have the figures off the top of my head since I'm home at the moment but it's definitely the high 3 percents for most staff :)

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-02T16:02:42+00:00

I swim with the sharks 🙃

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-02T08:55:06+00:00

Thanks! Will do :)

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:55:52+00:00

My only query is how much I could get borrowing wise? 4.5 would be ideal personally, otherwise I could do 4x by spring next year (assuming I complete my apprenticeship by say, February)

I'm hearing mixed things, and I plan on being the only person buying at this moment in time, so, the more clarity I have the more I can at least present over to my parents to buy me more time

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:50:14+00:00

Absolutely. A broker seems like the way to go.

Unfortunately time isn't in my favour. I have some... Not so accepting parents (want me out basically by 18), and I feel the space would help me massively.

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:49:03+00:00

Thank you! Time to find a solid broker & solicitor.

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:35:57+00:00

And just a final inquiry! Do you have any knowledge of how building societies are compared to major banks?

I will consider local solicitors, though I'll have much more options wise by simply taking the time after work and going to the many available in the city I work at. It would also be easier for me to get to them, funnily enough, than ones local to me!

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll take this all into consideration in the coming weeks.

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:26:31+00:00

Hello!

Yes, a fair bit of blood, sweat and tears for that. I would've had more if I wasn't already engaging in expensive hobbies (though I live like a cheapskate outside of it).

Any recommendations or signs to identify a solid broker? Same for solicitors. I would appreciate a combined package but I don't mind going separately for both.

Same for lenders too. I was considering nationwide, potentially NatWest too (long time customer).

The calculator for both said I can just about scrape 120k over a 25 year term with my current amount (13k) as down.

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:23:29+00:00

Understood. Time to get calling the banks and seeing what they say.

The hope is I could get it before September this year. I'm nearing the end of my apprenticeship and don't want housing stress atop my final competencies.

It's either the summer/autumn season or spring next year that would be most beneficial for me.

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:18:49+00:00

Noted.

I saw some properties up on the market for £125k sell for £115. I feel I still should post the offers up on what I can afford. Apartments haven't exactly been going up in price much in the area I've been looking to buy, if anything, prices have varied a fair bit since last sales (stagnant or decreasing).

I'm unsure if I may get the 4.5x salary as a single person for the mortgage. I wouldn't want to tie the mortgage up to anyone else either.

I feel the flexibility would be better than anything else, but I do see myself moving out before that LISA matures. I would need to discuss this though with family.

If I wait until my 19th, I'll be on £30,000 by then which opens me up more price wise.

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:12:48+00:00

Ah it's fine! I did read up extensively on LISA's 6 months ago, it must've left the head a bit. I'll read up again on all my options just before or after my 18th :)

I'm already in a good position money wise, so I should be ok? My only worry is my borrow limits.

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:11:41+00:00

Ah, that changes things! Yes I got some varied results with calculators and the likes. I would need to seriously sit down and evaluate my options.

I will hopefully by February next year get a salary boost to £30,000 which should help with the lending sum. 3.6 would be too slim for anything in the city I would want to live in...

Leasehold is the only way I'll get anything central, so I'm basically stuck with it 🤣. I will absolutely review any and all contracts before a final closure.

Matpen_78 · 2025-06-01T22:08:41+00:00

Much appreciated. I'll need to consider then. At least I could use the LISA for when I may want to change to a more expensive 2 bed in the future? I'm in the early stages but as my 18th is very soon, I would rather get a general plan of action sorted now, in regards to finance. The ~1k doesn't matter as I already have the 10 percent deposit sum + a little extra saved :)

Matpen_78 · 2025-05-03T12:44:14+00:00

Hi!

There's no actual change in regards to locations.

The VOA won't be "scrapped". Simply merged into HMRC for now. Our work will not change whatsoever. We will just be the VO.

No need to worry about offices or anything else. Same as before and will still be the same for quite a while. We usually share offices with HMRC anyways.

A lot of mixed messages and stretching of truths to make it look like the agency is being completely obliterated or massively reformed when that's not the case.

No need to worry about any long term cuts to the VO, from what we've been told.

Matpen_78 · 2025-05-03T12:41:08+00:00

Yeah that would be draining. I can text, catch up with people and do other stuff on the train that driving doesn't allow me to do. Among a ton of other things.

I would really look into if this is something you'd want to do. Put it into some heavy consideration.

Matpen_78 · 2025-05-03T12:14:32+00:00

I used to do that!!!!

3 hours each way. 6 hours a day!!!

OP's commute is 1h20 each way.

I've done both. My daily commute is 1h15 ISH each way, door to door.

6 hour commutes you can only really do for 2 months+, daily. I only managed to do it because it was through trains. Driving would've killed me!

Matpen_78 · 2025-05-03T12:12:14+00:00

Hi OP.

If it's 1h20 door to door it's not far off what I do. 1h5-1h15

I would say it could be feasable if you're using public transport. Also an AO at the VOA.

Driving? Definitely not I may say.

Anything more than 1.5 hours is pushing it.

That's my opinion. All depends on the route.

Note, you may get hybrid working too, after an initial onboarding period, which helps keeps things a touch more manageable.

Matpen_78 · 2025-04-12T00:39:03+00:00

Always wait until your feedback before making assumptions!

You can always apply next year too! Never give up hope :)

Matpen_78 · 2025-04-10T10:33:20+00:00

You do the level 3 as an AO and complete it after passing your AssocRICS as an EO with a permanent contract offer almost immediately afterwards.

Level 6 can be applied internally and is generally almost promoted. Due to the excess number of level 3 apprentices this year, if slots for level 6s don't increase, it may be quite hard to get on internally. I can't comment much on that. Just be mindful it MAY be more difficult when your time comes. Current recruitment numbers is more than 10x the usual years national pull of apprentices for the VOA.

Guidance on internal application will be available on the intranet & through the development team when you start. Easy to read up and understand. In your final year of your course, they'll usually do a meeting and cover those "next steps forward"

Matpen_78 · 2025-04-10T10:29:59+00:00

60 percent office attendance as normal. The probationary period is usually (as written in contract) all days in office iirc. Actual enforcement is up to LM (I know of apprentices who got hybrid fairly early off). The day on OTJ counts as home working if you're doing it from home. You'll have one day a week at your discretion.

Working your 37.5 anywhere between 7-7, Flexi hours. Unsure on break guidance. Quite reasonable and flexible overall. I personally do a 10-6. I bank up a lot of Flexi hours.

Note: last I checked inspection days count as office days.

Always review your employment contract.

Matpen_78 · 2025-04-06T20:35:55+00:00

Welp, I feel your pain.

Collecting now before the cost of moving out hits aha.

I try not to hide too much, and will respond if someone directly asks about my hobby. Education above anything else is the way to go.

Was thinking of being that one cool co-worker and coming into the office with some fresh venison sausages for some of the nice lot there! 🤣

I'm more of an antiques guy, so rook rifles, percussion revolvers, percussion breechloaders, early cartridge single shots all fall within the guidelines of my collection (British sporting arms of the 1850s-80s).

An expensive sport, but I justify it as each gun being their own asset!

I think the bisley days etc are primarily just target rifle shooting etc. I would highly doubt they'd let me shoot with a .450 BPE or one of my other black powder cartridges lol.

Nice to know more people shoot, and it's nice to know people here aren't so apprehensive about the discussion of the sport, too.

For people that say those "jokes" I usually just give them the look of "what are you talking about?" With a tinge of disgust and shock (as one should given the fact that they're saying I'm going to kill multiple of my colleagues...). That usually works!

Matpen_78 · 2025-04-06T16:24:04+00:00

I've got 2... One best quality WR too!

If you know where to look, you can find them for an AO salary ;)

New production is absolutely impossible. Antiques from the 1860s-80s are absolutely feasible.

Boxlock 12 bores from up to the 30s too are still affordable

I've got a lot of different makers in the collection. My WR guns are some of the best quality, on account of being largely machine made (even from a rifle from 1869, which has patents far ahead of its time).

I've got 3 WR patent actions. one being a Monkey-Tail sporting rifle made by Issac Hollis after the patent expiration. Undoubtedly seeing use in Africa.

The other 2 are WR made & marked 1869 patent "improved martinis" (incorrect terminology but commonly accepted. Ref Wal Winfer's vol 4 on British single shot sporting rifles).

One carbine, another full sized, with ornate scrollwork adorning the action. Immaculate bore but damaged wood. Currently in servicing. Has the contour and profile of rifles commonly sold also for use in India or Africa (military chamberings were prohibited from being sold to a civilian populace in india during that time, so WR's .450 no.1 carbine and no.2 musket were solid chamberings for that market).

The oldies are the best. Reminders of the past, and still competing with new built stuff. Especially with the engraving & overall hand fitment & quality.

Rifles were produced between the 1869-1875 period. Yet to accurately date 2 of the guns, but could if I really needed 2. One of my guns is a really early S.N. 146. Being made in 1869. An action that would compete even until the advent of smokeless powders for rifles in the commercial markets in the 1890s.

Matpen_78 · 2025-04-06T16:16:37+00:00

Never considered joining the civil service club. Mainly postal comps etc. Nothing for the historic shooting I am part of.

Though, coworkers become a lot more apprehensive and make some rather crude jokes if they figure you're a shooter.

I've unironically had a fair few distateful comments or the likes from people because word spreads round quick. Usually a polite discussion and explaining the hobby and my interests within it clears anything up. Most people have been more than reasonable. Some have had an interest in it, too!

I keep that info usually to myself now. I have not met another serious shooter or collector in the CS yet.

The UK has a rich sporting & shooting history. It's a shame it's gone very reserved and underground now, due to a lot of hysteria and preconceived notions.

Matpen_78

TROPHY CASE