Base yourself in the heart of London – three of our four campuses are based in London’s West End with the other based in Harrow.
We offer a range of wellbeing and work-life balance benefits to recognise and reward the essential contribution our colleagues make to our success and growth. These are inclusive for colleagues of all backgrounds, including LGBT+ colleagues, disabled colleagues, pregnant colleagues, parents and carers, as well as colleagues of all genders, ages, ethnicities, nationalities, religion and beliefs, and marriage and civil partnership status.
Some of our core benefits include:
Annual leave
You will enjoy a generous annual leave allowance of 35 days per year (pro-rata for part-time colleagues). This is in addition to the statutory bank holidays and University closure days (generally over the Christmas period).
Generous occupational pension scheme
You will automatically become an active member of an occupational pension scheme from the start date of your employment. The University operates three pension schemes. The Teachers Pension Scheme (for Teaching colleagues), Local Government Pension Scheme (for Professional Services colleagues) and University Superannuation scheme USS (For existing members only).
Incremental progression and cost of living
If you are appointed to a grade that is paid on the nationally negotiated salary scale, then every year you should expect your salary to go up by one spine point until you reach the top spine point for your grade. This normally applies even if you have been on maternity, adoption, parental or long-term sick leave in the last 12 months.
If you are a member of Senior Staff on our management terms and conditions then your salary will be reviewed annually.
The University also reviews cost of living increases on an annual basis.
You will normally be paid on 22nd of each month by BACS transfer to your nominated bank account.
Smart and flexible working
We operate a notional 35-hour working week with the actual times of attendance to be arranged with your Line Manager.
We recognise that for senior colleagues and those in academic roles it is not appropriate in a professional contract to be specific as to the exact hours of availability for duties; the proportion of time an individual should devote to activities is a matter for professional judgement.
Our professional service colleagues are able to take advantage of our commitment to Smart Working where teams have adopted working patterns and principles to support greater flexibility in location supported by technology.
A number of supportive policies aid work-life balance and create a family-friendly workplace at the University of Westminster. This includes policies on special leave.
We are particularly supportive of parents with young children and those with caring responsibilities. Flexibility may apply to your hours of work, the times that you work and where you work.
Family friendly
The University of Westminster is fully committed to helping working parents balance work and family life wherever this is operationally and financially possible. The University operates a maternity, paternity and adoption leave package which is more favourable than statutory requirements.
Other policies in operation include shared parental leave, parental leave and time off for dependants leave.
Learning and development
The University is committed to supporting all colleagues in their personal, professional and career aspirations by providing a range of development opportunities. We foster a culture which encourages you to develop your talent and strengths throughout your journey with us.
As part of our lifelong learning culture, it is important for you to engage with our annual Professional, Performance and Development Review (PPDR) Scheme that you and your manager will use to record key performance objectives and ensure you have a personal development plan in place as part of your continued personal development.
Colleagues also have the opportunity to develop their skills overseas through colleague exchange and student travel abroad programmes. Find out more on the staff mobility page.
All colleagues at the University of Westminster are entitled to use the library facilities across all campuses, as well as borrow books for personal study or leisure.
Health and fitness
We have a wide range of sporting facilities for both colleagues and students, including gyms at Regent Street and Harrow campuses. You will be able to take advantage of free access to the University’s gyms and exercise classes.
Wellbeing and mental health support
At Westminster, wellbeing is one of the three underpinning priorities – alongside inclusion and sustainable development – that guide us in all we do. As part of this we provide a comprehensive range of wellbeing and mental health support to our colleagues:
All colleagues at the University have access to a free employee assistance programme which provides 24-hour access to confidential support and advice. The helpline provides practical advice and emotional support to colleagues. The service is free of charge and can be accessed on an unlimited basis, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We have a comprehensive OH service run by an independent, confidential health service. The OH service is delivered by a team of health professionals who have trained in the branch of medicine that deals with the relationship between work and health.
Individual counselling support is available for non-work-related issues which are impacting a colleague's mental health, as well as for work-related issues.
The University also offers a free Virtual Medical Care service providing colleagues and their immediate family access to GP consultations where they can discuss their health concerns, including mental health, with a licensed GP via a website, app or over the phone 24/7.
We provide an internal workplace mediation service to support informal resolution in situations of conflict between colleagues with the purpose of resolving the conflict to support wellbeing.
Colleagues are also encouraged to look after their own mental health through a number of signposted resources recommended by organisations such as the NHS and Mind including the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service.
Alongside providing access to a wide range of mental health support, the University promotes the importance of good mental health and positive wellbeing in all that we do.
Colleagues are encouraged to develop their own wellness action plan which are designed to help colleagues think holistically about their mental health needs and what steps can be taken to promote their wellbeing at work.
Colleagues and their managers are encouraged to undertake a Stress Risk Assessment to help understand the type of actions and support that will help to promote a colleague’s wellbeing, especially with a view to reducing and managing potential stressors.
Our colleague wellbeing programme covers a range of activities from free yoga sessions to access to gardening and green spaces and is informed and updated from the results of our frequent Colleague Wellbeing Survey.
The University promotes a coaching culture and coaching and mentoring is available to support wellbeing and resilience amongst other things.
Our colleague networks have been at the forefront of change-making through our equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives. By joining our networks, colleagues can benefit both professionally and personally by making a wide range of connections and engaging in such a way that will reward their role within Westminster.
Our Report and Support portal allows those working at the University to report experiences of bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, racism, faith-related bullying and harassment, micro-aggression and hate crime. This includes incidents that have occurred on campus, online, inside or outside the Westminster community.
Cycle to work
We have an agreement with Cyclescheme Ltd to run an assisted bike purchase scheme for our colleagues. The scheme takes advantage of a tax concession offered by the government and under this agreement, employees who have contracts of employment that outlast the duration of the salary sacrifice (pay back) period can benefit from obtaining a tax-free bike and accessories (eg safety equipment).
You must be over 18 years old and have completed your probationary period to be eligible. Colleagues participating in the scheme can expect to save between 33-41% off the high street price of a bike, depending on your individual tax status.
Eye care voucher scheme
All colleagues who use display screen equipment are entitled to free regular eye tests in accordance with the University of Westminster’s eye care voucher scheme.
Season ticket loan
You can take out a loan for the purchase of annual rail, London Underground, London buses or other season tickets.
Give as you earn
We operate a Give as you earn scheme whereby you can choose to make a regular donation to charity each month through payroll. This is a completely tax-free, simple and flexible way for you to support your favourite charity on a regular basis