Why work at UWE Bristol
There are plenty of reasons to choose us as your employer.
What you can expect
As a member of staff at UWE Bristol, you can access a wide range of benefits.
Competitive salary and pension
A competitive salary
We are constantly evaluating our roles to ensure our staff are paid fairly for the work they do. That means you can benefit from an incremental salary scheme with annual cost of living increases.
Excellent pension schemes
Take advantage of a competitive contributory final pension scheme – either the Local Government Pension Scheme or Teachers' Pension Scheme, depending on your role.
Savings and discounts
Save on healthcare
Make use of a discounted rate on a Simply Cash Plan, offered by SimplyHealth. Claim money back on a range of health services for you and your family – from dentistry and optical to alternative medicines and private healthcare.
Save on commuting
Want to cycle to work? You can buy a bike at a reduced rate through our cycle-to-work scheme. Want to take the bus or train? As a UWE Bristol employee you’ll be eligible for an annual, interest-free season ticket loan to help pay for travel to work.
Other discounts
Working at UWE Bristol means you can buy a TOTUM card – the only student discount endorsed by the National Union of Students (NUS). Get discounts on more than 350 brands – from food and essentials to tech, travel and beauty.
You can also take advantage of our partner Vivup for access to more discounts and benefits locally and nationally. You’ll need to register using an access code available on our intranet (login required).
Access to great facilities
Childcare
Need support with childcare? We have our own nursery. Halley Nursery is situated on Frenchay Campus and has places for 62 children. Priority is given to students and staff of UWE Bristol with unfilled places being offered to the wider community.
Library
Get free access to a wide range of books, periodicals, audio and visual resources, as well as extensive online learning resources at one of the largest libraries in the South West.
Restaurants and cafes
You can enjoy a coffee or bite to eat at one of the many affordable cafes and restaurants across our campuses. We even have our own on-campus Costa and Starbucks where you’ll get a discount if you bring your own cup.
Supporting your hobbies and interests
Sports
Take advantage of exceptional fitness facilities at a discounted rate. Our Centre for Sport on Frenchay Campus has fully equipped fitness suites, an indoor climbing wall and a state-of-the-art sports hall. The centre also offers a wide range of fitness classes and activity groups plus onsite physiotherapy treatment.
Music
Got an interest in music? Our Centre for Music offers something for everyone – whether you’re a complete novice or an experienced performer. You can get involved with a choir, join an orchestra or access our recording studios and DJ booth.
Volunteering
If you want to give back, we work with over 600 not-for-profit organisations, so you can take advantage of the many volunteering opportunities on offer and get a great deal back in return.
A good work-life balance
Annual leave
Working for UWE Bristol means you get a minimum of 25 days annual leave each year as well as bank holidays, and up to 6.5 days paid leave for University closures.
Flexible working
A healthy balance between work and life is important. That’s why we offer a variety of flexible working patterns, including potential options to work from home part-time, part-time hours, term-time only working and other arrangements.
Job share opportunities
All our roles are open for consideration for job sharing.
Maternity and paternity/co-parent leave
We offer a range of benefits to support you in balancing work life and family life, including enhanced maternity and paternity/co-parent packages.
Learning and development
Our in-house Learning and Development Centre offers a wide range of courses and support to help you develop on a personal and professional level.
Whether you’d like to develop your management, communication or presentation skills, learn new IT packages or build your awareness of equality and diversity issues, the centre is here to support your development needs.
Further study and qualifications
We want you to keep developing your skills as well as building new ones, which is why we offer financial support to study university or professional development courses related to your area of work – as well as time off for study leave.
Academic professional development
We have a variety of academic professional development support routes for academics and research colleagues joining the University. These will be discussed with you at the appointment stage of your recruitment journey.
"We aim to create an environment that respects the diversity of staff and students, and enables them to derive maximum benefit and enjoyment from their involvement in the life of the University."
Steve West Vice-Chancellor, UWE Bristol
A supportive community
Get involved with one or more of our many staff networks, which provide opportunities for socialising, peer-to-peer support and personal development. Networks are run by staff for staff and bring together people from all across the University.
You can also join the Staff Social – once you become a member you can take advantage of a variety of events throughout the year.
Your wellbeing
We’re here for you and we understand that good mental health ensures a positive working experience and great performance. If you face a challenge that’s work-related or personal, support is there for you through dedicated wellbeing and support services.
You can also take advantage of our Feel Good Programme – initiatives that run throughout the year, and support staff to relax, get active, eat healthily and try something new.
Feel Good programme
"UWE Bristol is a friendly place to work and it’s a privilege to work alongside talented and dedicated staff."
Since joining UWE Bristol in 2002, I’ve worked in many different roles, starting as an Associate Lecturer through to managing widening participation and outreach activities. In 2004, the University supported my PhD, and I’ve gone onto initiate many research projects which led me to becoming a Professor in 2020.
I’ve recently become the joint Postgraduate Research Lead for the School of Arts, and I also lead the Critical Race and Cultural Research Network. I’ve been able to carve my role and find a balance between research and teaching, enabling me to pursue my research interests and be an effective educator.
As a researcher, I’ve secured funding for various projects, including to set up and run an international eight-month Festival of Learning. I’ve also had a rare opportunity to take a funded research trip to Ethiopia through the Impact Accelerator Scheme.
As an anthropologist, I’ve conducted extensive research about Black British History and culture, and had a book published in 2023. Through my research, I was invited to join the We Are Bristol History Commission, created by the Mayor of Bristol after the Colston statue was toppled in 2020.
I’m pleased there are now more Black and Brown staff members that work here, as when I started 22 years ago I was one of the very few. UWE Bristol is a friendly place to work and it’s a privilege to work alongside talented and dedicated staff. Our passionate, student-centred teaching staff go above and beyond to support students and their teams.
"UWE Bristol drives inclusivity and celebrates diversity - we’re all about bringing people together to make positive change."
From studying at UWE Bristol to applying for my first role here, everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. UWE Bristol drives inclusivity and celebrates diversity - we’re all about bringing people together to make positive change.
I’ve been lucky enough to work in many different roles across the University. My current role in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) team is varied, from bidding for funding to developing strategies to improve the student and staff experience.
In the past, I’ve led the development of the Mental Wealth Strategy, which puts Mental Health and Wellbeing first for students and staff. I’m currently working on developing an Anti-Racism Strategy for the University which will set out our commitment to support an anti-racist culture.
The University’s flexible working arrangements allow me to work condensed hours to accommodate my family’s needs. I’m often able to work from home too, which is useful when I need to concentrate and avoid interruptions.
UWE Bristol has been supportive of my career development, from supporting me to complete my master’s and leadership courses, to encouraging me to attend external conferences. I’ve also had the opportunity to mentor other racially minoritized individuals looking to progress their career.
"My team are amazing, everyone makes you feel welcome, and you feel like you are part of something bigger."
"I studied BSc Information Tech here at UWE Bristol and got the opportunity to intern. Working across different teams gave me an insight about how complex IT organisations work and I was able to pinpoint what I wanted, and I feel this this gave me a career head start.
“We have great people at UWE Bristol and my team are amazing, everyone makes you feel welcome, and you feel like you are part of something bigger.”
"UWE Bristol strives to create a diverse, inclusive and collaborative environment with a supportive ethos, which empowers people to realise their full potential."
"I initially joined UWE Bristol as a Contracts Manager and later progressed to an Acting Up role. Working as the Acting Head of Contracts enabled me to show my leadership capabilities. This opportunity was key in securing a promotion to my current role as Head of Contracts.
"There are many opportunities for staff from all backgrounds to progress to senior roles within the institution. I’ve been supported by UWE Bristol to complete leadership qualifications and contract courses, which have benefitted my own career progression.
"We have great people at UWE Bristol, who make me feel valued. My team are helpful, collaborative and supportive, and the leadership of senior management has supported me throughout my journey.
"UWE Bristol have authentic and honest values which I identify with and have experienced first-hand during my career here. The UWE Bristol Strategy 2030 is another example of how forward thinking and progressive the University is.
UWE Bristol strives to create a diverse, inclusive and collaborative environment with a supportive ethos, which empowers people to realise their full potential."