As a colleague at Northumbria University, you’ll have access to excellent benefits and discounts. We know that every individual is different, and with our diverse benefits package, we are confident that there is something for everyone.
Pay
We offer competitive pay that reflects the responsibilities and requirements of your role, ensuring a fair and consistent approach to reward across the organisation. Our incremental pay structure also provides opportunities for salary progression, with annual increases available until you reach the top of your pay scale.
Pensions
You’ll be eligible to join one of our excellent pension schemes, with generous employer contributions that always exceed your own.
Our schemes provide a range of benefits, including:
- The option to receive a tax free lump sum as well as an annual pension upon retirement
- The option to contribute more to your pension via additional voluntary contributions
- The option to access your pension before your Normal Pension Age
- Early payment of pension in the event that you retire on grounds of ill health
- Substantial life cover should you die whilst in the University’s service
Annual Leave, Public Holidays and Christmas Closure
We want you have a good work-life balance; that’s why we offer a generous annual leave entitlement of 35 days for full-time colleagues, in addition to public holidays and institutional closure days. For part-time colleagues, annual leave is provided on a pro-rata basis. You can also take advantage of our additional leave scheme, which enables you to request to purchase an additional 5 or 10 days’ holiday per year.
In addition to our annual leave and public holiday entitlement, colleagues can benefit from up to 4 institutional closure days per year over the Christmas period.
Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave
We are committed to supporting colleagues as they welcome a new addition to their family. Our Maternity, Paternity and Adoption policies provide generous leave arrangements and guidance, ensuring you have the time and support needed to care for your child and enjoy those important early moments together.
Special Leave
We recognise that unexpected situations can arise and sometimes require your immediate attention. Our Special Leave provisions offer support in a range of circumstances, providing time away from work when you need it most, in addition to your annual leave entitlement and other family-friendly leave arrangements.
Continuing personal and professional development is as important to us as it is to you; that’s why we offer a comprehensive suite of learning and development opportunities to support you to be successful in your role and future career aspirations. Developing your skills and knowledge is critical to the University’s success; that’s why we’ll support you to undertake further academic or professional qualifications that are relevant to your role. Our learning and development opportunities include:
Coaching and Mentoring
Through our coaching and mentoring opportunities, you can access guidance, support and valuable insights from experienced colleagues, helping you build confidence, develop new skills and progress your career.
Leadership and Management Development
Our Leadership Retreat and Leadership and Management Foundations programme provide colleagues with the opportunity to develop the confidence and capability to lead and manage at Northumbria.
Funding to Support a Qualification or Apprenticeship
Eligible colleagues may be able to access funding to support qualifications or apprenticeships that enhance their skills, knowledge and career development, helping them grow both personally and professionally.
Education Development
Our Education Development activity supports colleagues to develop and achieve professional recognition for their education practices and their impact on our students' success.
Bespoke Development
We work as internal consultants to provide bespoke support and development solutions where required, including the facilitation of team away days, development of team charters, and events to embed our Values and Behaviours.
Flexible Working
We recognise that flexibility can make a real difference to work-life balance. That's why we offer a range of flexible working options to help colleagues balance their professional and personal commitments, including flexible start and finish times, hybrid working, part-time working and job sharing where appropriate.
Occupational Health
Colleagues have access to Occupational Health services and physiotherapy support, providing expert advice and practical assistance to help manage health concerns, aid recovery and support wellbeing in the workplace.
Eyecare
We will cover the cost of an annual eye test at a specified optician for colleagues who regularly use a computer for their work or where the role requires prescription safety glasses.
Employee Assistance Programme
Our Employee Assistance Programme is an independent telephone helpline available to all colleagues and their immediate family members to offer 24/7 confidential support, guidance and advice on a wide range of personal and professional matters.
Northumbria Sport
Our on-site gym membership includes a free 4-week trial, reduced-price membership rates, monthly health assessments and a variety of group exercise classes to help you achieve your fitness goals.
Health Shield
Through our Health Shield corporate healthcare plan, colleagues can access support towards a range of everyday healthcare costs, helping you take care of your physical and mental wellbeing while making your money go further.
We understand that the cost of travelling to work can be expensive; we have a range of schemes to reduce the cost of rail, bus and metro travel.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Our Cycle to Work Scheme, is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective way to get new cycling equipment. We have partnered with Halfords, the UK's leading Cycle to Work Scheme provider. The scheme enables colleagues to lease a bike with no upfront cost for a fixed monthly payment from your gross salary.
Electric Vehicle Scheme
Make the switch to greener travel with our Electric Vehicle (EV) Salary Sacrifice Scheme. Through our partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions, colleagues can access a brand-new or used electric or hybrid vehicle with insurance, maintenance, servicing and breakdown cover included. Monthly payments are deducted directly from your salary, providing a convenient and potentially tax-efficient way to drive a more sustainable vehicle.
Parking on Campus
All colleagues are entitled to apply for a car parking permit. This permit entitles the permit holder to search for, and park in an available space in designated parking areas, but does not guarantee a car parking space. Permits are renewed annually.
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Our Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ Nursery with a state of the art building boasts a range of features, specifically designed with your child’s development, safety and enjoyment in mind. We offer you the option to pay for your child’s nursery place via salary sacrifice, which means that you can save on the total cost of your childcare through tax and National Insurance relief.
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A great place to work, with access to multiple on-site shops, places to eat and our award-winning library.
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Our colleague equality networks provide opportunities to connect with colleagues, share experiences, celebrate diversity and help shape our workplace culture through communities focused on a range of identities, interests and lived experiences.
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Whether you're buying clothes, electrical goods, staying in a hotel or enjoying a meal out, there are lots of opportunities to save money. As part of our commitment to colleague wellbeing, we've partnered with local businesses to provide a range of employee discounts. You may also be able to access further savings by signing up for an NUS card.
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Our employee loan scheme is designed to help with life's unexpected costs, giving you access to short-term financial support when you need it. Flexible repayment options of 3, 6 or 9 months are available, with payments deducted from your net salary.
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If you're joining us from more than 40 miles away and need to move closer to your new work base, our relocation scheme can help with the costs of settling into your new home. Eligible new starters may receive relocation support of up to 10% of their annual starting base salary when moving to a permanent residence within 40 miles of their work location. Further details can be found in our Relocation Assistance Policy.
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We recognise that relocating to work in the UK can involve significant additional costs. Our Financial Support for Immigration Costs Policy provides financial support for eligible colleagues, including new starters requiring permission to work in the UK, colleagues extending a work-related visa, and those applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Further information can be found in the Financial Support for Immigration Costs Policy.
