Working for
People and Culture Department People and Culture Department
Embracing diversity and excellence.
Welcome to our People and Culture department
We are a diverse group of Human Resources (HR) professionals, with a range of specialisms spanning Advisory Services, Business Partnering, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), Employee Relations, HR Systems, Organisational Design, Payroll, Pensions, Policy Development, Resourcing and Staff Development.
We work together towards achieving 3 key aims:
- To foster a culture of inclusion and creativity
- To enable everyone to do their best work
- To align our skills to positively impact on and support the growth of the organisation
We are a large, inclusive team that values continuous learning, work-life balance, and embraces the flexibility technology offers us in how and where we collaborate.
UAL is the most inclusive place that I have ever worked. I feel valued and my work is recognised by my manager.
Staff Survey response, December 2023
We are proud of our Staff Survey results:
- Nearly 9 in 10 of us (87%) care about the future of UAL
- 86% understand their role in creating a great experience for our students
- 85% say their manager treats them fairly and with respect.
- 84% say they know what is expected of them at work
- 80% find their work interesting and challenging
We strive to create a truly inclusive culture. We are a members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme (which supports our LGBTQ+ inclusion work) and the Business Disability Forum. We are a Disability Confident Committed (Level 1) employer and our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team is also preparing our first applications for both the Race Equality Charter and University Mental Health Charter.
However, there is always more work to do. We know we exist in an industry where structural racism means that Black, Asian and minority ethnic (B.A.M.E.)1 staff are underrepresented. We know we have a duty to contribute to the climate change agenda, and that we are living though a period of pronounced social and economic inequality. This is why we have a departmental target of 39% B.A.M.E. representation, a Climate Action Plan, are working towards becoming a (Level 2) Disability Confident Employer and have a Social Purpose Agenda to ensure we use everything in our power to support our staff to shape thriving and sustainable creative industries.
When you join the UAL People Department, you become a valued member of a supportive team with access to a wide range of benefits:
event_available Annual and volunteering leave
UAL staff enjoy 31 to 39 days of annual leave (excluding bank holidays) depending on job grade, job family and hours worked per week. Staff also receive an additional 2 days off to volunteer. Part-time/fractional staff receive annual leave on a pro-rata basis.
ecg_heart Medical insurance and eye care
We offer discounted Medical Insurance with BUPA that includes Consultations, Diagnostics, in-patient and day-case treatment, Mental Health support, Therapies and Digital GP service. Staff can also get eye tests and glasses at a reduced cost.
savings Pension schemes
If you have a contract longer than 12 weeks, you can join one of our competitive benefit pension schemes. For Professional roles, our LGPS employer contribution is 14.9% and for Academics, our TPS employer contribution is 28.68%.
family_restroom Equal parental leave and nursery Discount
UAL has a sector-leading equal parental pay and leave provision. The policy entitles eligible salaried employees and Hourly Paid Lecturers to 6 months of full maternity or paternity pay. We also offer discounted fees at Smithfield.
payments Discounts and interest-free loans
Staff can take advantage of interest free loans for travel expenses and tech purchases, as well as access discounts on lifestyle brands, food and drink, gyms, fitness centres and much more.
school Development
Our Staff Development Team is committed to providing a broad range of development opportunities for all staff. In addition to the in-house learning suite, staff have free access to all LinkedIn Learning courses.
support_agent Mental health and wellbeing
Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offers free individual counselling and advice on health, fitness, sleep, nutrition, finance and legal matters.
move_up Flexible and dynamic working
Flexible and hybrid working policies for improved work-life balance are offered from day one of employment.
school Creative community
Free places can be offered to staff on our evening and weekend short creative courses, and there are opportunities to attend student shows, exhibitions, lectures and events.
We also have Staff Networks to connect with colleagues in a supportive and inclusive environment.
I did an online lunchtime course within my first three months joining UAL on ethics within art. I enjoyed being on the course with participants in different countries and roles, sharing our thoughts and feeling connected to UAL’s expert teaching and learning more about art at the centre of it
A long-standing member of UAL who works in our department celebrated their 20th anniversary at UAL in September 2024. We share her story which may be of interest to you: Celebrating 20 Years of Service at UAL.
We are always looking to welcome new talent, and we hope you will be inspired to have a look at the vacancies we have on offer. If you can’t see an opportunity that matches your skills and expertise, don’t worry – if you sign up for our Job Alerts email, any new vacancies will be sent straight to your inbox as soon as they go live.
1 Disclaimer: We note that this language is contested and different terminology is used in different contexts and places, however as the Higher Education sector, HESA and Census data uses the terminology B.A.M.E we will continue to use this language at UAL.
Jobs at People and Culture Department
There are currently no roles available within the People and Culture Hub. Please register for job alerts to be kept informed of future opportunities or explore our other opportunities across UAL.
