What makes Oxford Brookes a great place to work?

As one of the largest employers in Oxford, with well over 2,000 staff, we take our responsibility for the welfare and job satisfaction of our staff very seriously. We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and will employ the best person for the job, regardless of disability, sex, age, race, religious belief or sexual orientation. We welcome applications from people with a disability and we are a two ticks employer which means that we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and to consider them on their abilities.

Personal development
Oxford Brookes offers all staff guidance and encouragement to expand their knowledge, skills and qualifications. We spend over 2% of our salary budget on staff development, and every employee has an annually reviewed personal development plan. Whats more, the University is working towards Investors in People (IiP) status for every school and directorate.

Pension schemes
Academic staff will either be eligible for membership of the Teachers Pensions Scheme or the Universities Superannuation Scheme and non-academic staff join the Local Government Pension Scheme. All three are final salary schemes, providing guaranteed retirement benefits, and the value of the pension is protected against inflation. In addition to the annual pension the schemes offer ill-health, death and family benefits and the option of a tax-free lump sum at retirement.

Health and sports facilities

Occupational health
As a health promoting university, Oxford Brookes has a commitment to the health and welfare of its staff. The Universitys Occupational Health Advisers are concerned with all issues relating to health and work and can be contacted directly or through line managers or Human Resources.

Childcare facilities
Located in purpose-built accommodation on the Morrell Hall site, a 5-10 minute walk from the Headington Campus, the Brookes nursery offers full day care provision for children aged 4 months to 5 years.

Osteopathy clinics

friendly and diverse community

Buckley Building, Headington Campus

About me...

Susan has been working as a domestic assistant at the University halls of residence for more than five years. Although the students maintain their own rooms, Susan is responsible for the communal areas. She says, Its a nice place to work. Talking to the students about their courses and future ambitions can be very interesting, especially as quite a few are from overseas.
Simon Williams Undergraduate Centre, Wheatley Campus

Its a nice place to work

Susan has periodic staff development reviews when she discusses different aspects of her job and any training needs. So far she has completed a Cleaning NVQ Level 2, which she feels provides recognition for her work. Susan has also completed a refresher course in computing as she hopes at some point to reduce her hours as a cleaner and to return to part-time office work. Susan, Domestic Assistant

inflationprotected final salary pensions

Situated in Oxford, and Swindon, the osteopathy clinics are part of the Universitys School of Health and Social Care and are staffed by highly qualified and experienced osteopathic tutors and students in their third, fourth and fifth years of the rigorous five-year programme in Osteopathy. All staff using the clinics receive the first two sessions free and thereafter pay 27.50 (07/08 fee) per session. In addition to these benefits, Oxford Brookes also provides: > Help with the cost of eyesight tests, spectacles and contact lenses for staff who use a display screen as a significant part of their normal work. > An NHS dental practice on Headington Campus for all staff and students.

About me...

Rounding off the day in the gym or the squash court helps Ben to unwind and stay fit. He joined the University more than six years ago as a Human Resources Manager and, although based at Wheatley Campus, makes time to visit the Universitys Centre for Sport in Headington at least three times a week. He says, The sports and recreation facilities are excellent. Staff can join the Sports Centre for 25 a year and then pay as they go. Im not aware of any employer in Oxford that can rival the sports facilities offered here at Brookes. Ben, Human Resources Manager

5
extra holidays a year

About me...

Judie is a senior lecturer in hospitality, leisure and tourism management, and came to Oxford Brookes from Huddersfield University in January 2000. Daughter Maddie attended the nursery full-time until she was four years old and son William who is 21 months old is following in his sister's footsteps. The nursery is absolutely wonderful, Judie says. Everyone is very caring and helpful and they are supportive of parents as well as the children. The staff are so creative in the way they encourage use of a huge range of toys and materials. The children are inspired to do all sorts of things. Its also a great ice-breaker for getting to know other parents, which is very useful if you are new to an area. Judie, Senior Lecturer

The nursery is absolutely wonderful

Harcourt Hill Campus

Whatever job you are applying for, you will be joining a friendly and diverse community where every member of staff is recognised as important to the success of the University. In the last staff survey, well over 80% of staff said that they enjoyed their work and felt that their skills and experience were valued by their colleagues.

IiP is all about ensuring that organisations support individual development and we do this in many ways at Brookes:
> > > > > > > an annual personal development review a comprehensive NVQ programme up to level 5 lunchtime language classes in French, Italian and Spanish IT training, including the European Computer Driving Licence conferences and workshops public lectures a highly successful in-house training programme for management and organisational skills > professional accreditation studies.

And theres so much more

> Five extra holidays a year (added on to Spring and Autumn Bank Holidays and Christmas closure) in addition to your normal leave entitlement (minimum 25 days per year) > Access to the internet and your own email address > Free membership of the Universitys libraries > Active trade unions UCU and UNISON > A weekly newsletter during semester-time to keep you up-to-date with whats happening in and around the University > A car-share programme for travelling to work > Lunchtime activities, which include concerts, health walks, language classes and seminars > Up to 5,000 to help with the costs of relocating to the Oxford area if you are living else where when you join the University.

> > > > > > >

Sports facilities

All members of staff are entitled to use the sports facilities based on the Headington, Wheatley and Harcourt Hill Campuses. For a reduced annual fee you can use any of the facilities, including the: health and fitness suite with 65 training stations, sauna and steam room free-weights Olympic training room badminton, squash and tennis courts climbing room and lead tower 25-metre indoor heated swimming pool nine-hole golf course (par 3) classes, which include martial arts, aerobics and fitness.

What are the benefits?

The University is large and ambitious, and seeks to ensure that it employs the best people to offer the best educational and social experience for our students and customers. There are many benefits but we couldnt fit all of them in, so here are just a few of the main ones.

The nursery is run by a team of professionally qualified staff who are committed to developing the individual needs of the children within a high quality learning environment. At its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2007 it was rated outstanding for its educational provision. To help with the costs of childcare, staff can benefit from paying the nursery fees through a salary sacrifice scheme which saves about 30% of the costs through tax and NI relief, and for those staff who want to use external nurseries or creches, we also provide childcare vouchers.

Find out more

For an application form or more details on nursery places, please contact the nursery manager on 01865 485050. For information on childcare vouchers please call 08000 326 777

Work-life balance
We have some of the best family-friendly and work-life balance policies in the university sector. Brookes offers generous maternity and paternity leave, as well as parental and maternity support leave, and a career-break scheme. Everyone has a right to request changes in working hours to suit their responsibilities outside work, and many jobs enjoy flexi-time arrangements.

Environment and ethics

Oxford Brookes is committed to being an environmentally sustainable and ethically responsible place to study and work, and has been at the forefront of developments which have now been adopted by many other institutions and organisations.

Whats the background to Oxford Brookes?

Oxford Brookes University can trace its history back as far as 1865 when the Oxford School of Art was founded. The organisation grew and merged until it became Oxford Polytechnic and then in 1992 Oxford Brookes University. The University took its name from John Henry Brookes, the first Principal of the School of Technology, Art and Commerce.

What else do I need to know?

Oxford Brookes is based on three campuses in and around Oxford which can all be reached by public transport. A direct inter-site bus service operates all year round and staff can buy cheap season tickets that also give big fare reductions on other Oxford services. We also have a site in Swindon. On-site car-parking permits can be purchased by staff who live more than three miles from their place of work. If you prefer to cycle to work, there are plenty of cycle racks, under-cover bike-bins and showers.

About me...

About me...

Ceri has experienced many changes in lifestyle since joining us in 1986. She left her job as Deputy General Manager with Berni Inns to become a full-time senior technician in the then School of Hotel and Catering Management. Since then, studying part-time, she obtained a BSc(Hons) in Hotel and Catering Management and has had two periods of maternity leave. She is now Assistant Development Director in Corporate Affairs. With the arrival of her two sons, Ceri had to decide whether to look for part-time work or to renegotiate her working days to fit round both family and Brookes. Her 37-hour working week now comprises three short days and two long days. Ceri said, One of the reasons I stayed so long is the flexible approach to working. Im fortunate that in my particular role it suits both Brookes and me. I have also made good use of the Brookes Nursery Ceri, Assistant Development Director

Nalin came to Oxford Brookes in 1993 and when hes not in the mountains hes a Networking Administrator, troubleshooting around the University. Since taking the novice climbing course at the Sports Centre he hasnt looked back. Many of his holidays for the last few years have found him adventuring all over the world with other Brookes staff and students from skiing and ice-climbing in Chamonix to trekking to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas; experiencing the wilds of Patagonia and reaching The roof of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. Though hes no runner, he recently completed the Vancouver Marathon in Canada and will soon be attempting the Jungfrau Mountain Marathon in Switzerland. Nalin said, Ive had fantastic opportunities at Brookes. You dont have to be superfit to go trekking, but I do cycle everywhere and often utilise the excellent sport facilities. At Brookes, work-life balance is important and achievable. Nalin is also being supported by Brookes to study with the Cisco Networking Academy. Nalin, Networking Administrator

the first university in the world to be awarded Fairtrade status

over

2,000
staff
Professor Janet Beer Vice-Chancellor

100%
of our electricity comes from renewable sources
> In June 2007 Oxford Brookes came 5th in a new environmental league table of UK universities, and also received a first class rating for its environmental credentials. > The creation of environmentally sustainable buildings is central to our exciting plans for the 150m redevelopment of our campuses. > As well as paper, cans and glass, we recycle paper cups, computers and monitors, CDs, florescent tubes, cooking and engine oil and mobile phones. > 100% of our electricity comes from renewable sources. > In October 2003 we became the first university in the world to be awarded Fairtrade status, providing a platform for raising awareness of international trade issues amongst students, staff and the wider public. > Brookes launched an award-winning Green Commuter Plan which has led to substantial reductions in the number of staff and students travelling by car. Tougher new targets have been set for 2010.

over

19,000
students
Oxford Brookes takes pride in having been recognised as the leading modern university in the UK for most of the past decade. We aim to be a top class learning and teaching institution with an excellent record for research and for transferring the outcomes of research to practical applications in industry, commerce and the public sector. Two of the national centres of excellence in teaching and learning are based at Brookes and we pride ourselves on a long-standing reputation for the employability of our graduates. There are eight academic schools and six support directorates, and the responsibility for the day-to-day running of the University rests with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janet Beer and her two deputy vice-chancellors. With a student body of over 19,000 representing 110 countries, our students and staff are from all backgrounds, cultures and religions and make Oxford Brookes a truly international community for study and for employment.

The University encourages staff to reduce their use of the car through its Sustainable Travel Plan, interest-free loans and special schemes for the purchase of bus season tickets and bicycles.

On-campus catering, shopping and banking facilities

> The University offers a wide range of catering outlets, offering hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks including the award-winning Brookes Restaurant open to the public at lunchtimes and some evenings offering cuisine to rival the best in the city. > The Students Union runs several bars that are open to staff, as well as shops selling a wide range of goods. > Blackwells has an excellent bookshop based at Headington Campus. > The Santander banking group provide support to the University through scholarships and staff who purchase a Santander product, or bank with the group, are able to claim 10 free shares in the company and a range of additional benefits. Full details can be obtained from the Santander Branch at Gipsy Lane. > Cash machines are available at Headington Campus. We hope that this leaflet has provided you with useful information about Brookes. If you would like to follow up any of these points, please contact us on 01865 485960 or visit www.brookes.ac.uk. We look forward to receiving your application. Thank you for your interest.

Oxford Brookes
a great place to work

Directorate of Human Resources

To obtain a large-print copy of this publication or to enquire about other formats please contact +44 (0) 1865 484848 or email query @brookes .ac.uk
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