Newman University offers a range of benefits to staff such as chaplaincy and spiritual care, free tea and coffee, a staff room, free on-site parking, and a discounted travel scheme.  Other benefits include the following:

 

Holidays

All members of staff at Newman have an entitlement to 35 days annual leave per year (based on a full time contract) in addition to the 8 statutory bank and public holidays. Your annual leave entitlement will be detailed on your contract of employment.  Separately from annual leave, there may also be discretionary days when the University is closed on particular dates in the interests of efficiency.

Pension Schemes

All members of academic staff, regardless of the number of hours worked, are automatically included in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) unless they choose to opt out. Contribution rates for the scheme range from 7.4% to 11.7% from the employee and 16% from the employer. When joining the scheme it is possible to transfer in service from previous schemes and to buy additional pension. Please visit the TPS website or contact the Human Resources Department for details.

As a professional or support member of staff, you may be automatically enrolled into one of the University supported personal pension schemes.  You can expect to pay approximately 6% of your gross salary to the scheme managed by Aviva or you may be enrolled into a NEST scheme.  The University will write to you with details following your appointment, or contact the Human Resources Department for details.

 

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

The University offers its staff confidential support for them and their family via the Employee Assistance Scheme, available via a free helpline telephone number or online portal at any time during the day or night.  The scheme offers telephone counselling support, personal legal advice and financial information and health advice across a range of medical and wellbeing issues.

 

Occupational Health and Counselling Services

Occupational Health services are available to all staff and are provided by the Heart of England NHS Trust.  They offer medical support and advice to management and staff to promote wellbeing and health at work.

Face to face counselling may be offered to staff where they may be experiencing personal difficulties and referrals are made via the Human Resources team to external counselling providers.

 

Newman University Sports Centre

The sports and recreation facilities include:

• Fitness Suite
• Squash courts
• Sports Hall
• Gymnasium
• All Weather Pitch

Discounted sports and gym facilities are available for staff and include use of our fully equipped fitness suite, which provides a combination of cardiovascular, fixed and free weight equipment, and the use of the large Sports Hall.

 

Library

All staff can take advantage of the University’s extensive library services. The Library has a vast collection of books, online resources and other specialist materials.

Tax-Free Childcare

Tax-free childcare was introduced by the Government from April 2017 to replace the salary sacrifice schemes that organisations were able to offer. Newman University offered a childcare voucher scheme through Computershare Voucher Services, however in line with the 2017 legislation this scheme has been closed to new entrants from 4th October 2018. Employees who were already part of the Computershare Voucher Services scheme before 4th October 2018 scheme can continue in this scheme for as long as they are employed by Newman and Newman continues to offer the scheme.

The tax-free childcare scheme provides parents with children under the age of 12 savings of up to £2,000 a year per child to help cover the cost of childcare. Further details of the scheme can be found at www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare.

Finding Childcare in Birmingham

Birmingham City Council’s website includes a directory of childcare facilities in the area.

Cycle to Work Scheme

The Newman University Cycle to Work Scheme is part of the national Cycle to Work Initiative to encourage more people to travel to work by bicycle.  It enables employees to get a bike tax-free, saving on average about half the cost.

Further information about these and other staff benefits can be found in our Newman University Employee Benefits Booklet, given to all new staff within their induction period.  It includes details of a free-for-staff GP consultation service, a variety of health and well being services, discounts to hundreds of well-known brands, as well as salary sacrifice and other schemes.