Kingston Maurward Employee Benefits

Kingston Maurward Employee Benefits



Animal Park | Cellar Bar & Café College | Conferences | Equine Gardens | The Estate Shop Working Farm | Weddings & Events

We Inspire, We Challenge, We Care We inspire our students, visitors and other team members We challenge ourselves to do the best we can We care for each other, our local community and the environment “If you are doing these three things every day - you are doing your job.” Luke Rake, Principal & Chief Executive

“It’s a positive, friendly working environment.” “Everything is communicated clearly, and you are trusted to do the job. There’s flexibility around your working hours too.” “There is a real passion among the students and teaching staff.” “There are lots of training opportunities both internally and externally.” “It’s a great feeling knowing you are helping students, other colleagues - it makes it feel like a worthwhile job!” “There is supportive line management across the whole estate.”



WHAT MAKES KINGSTON MAURWARD DIFFERENT? An experienced team of staff Staff Awards Many of our staff have worked or volunteered Awarded monthly, our ‘Staff Member of locally, regionally, or across the world, doing a the Month’ certificates are voted for by staff variety of projects or job roles, whether that’s across the estate, to recognise and reward managing breeding programmes for marine those who go the extra mile. animals including sharks, penguins, and otters, or coral reef restoration projects in Cadet Force Adult Volunteers the Maldives, this diverse range of experience We have our own Combined Cadet Force, allows both our students and staff to learn CCF, on campus which is run by volunteers. from industry experts. All staff, whether academic or support, can join - training will be provided. Chelsea Flower Show In 2019, we won a Silver Gilt Award for our Staff Development Artisan Garden at the prestigious RHS Chelsea As part of our termly Staff Development Flower Show. Led and organised by our Week, you have the opportunity to try Horticulture department, this involved many practical activities which our students enjoy staff and students from various departments regularly, from kayaking to blacksmithing, to across the campus. We have now booked for floristry and tractor driving. We are always 2022. looking for staff to share their skills and talents. External events We have several commercial businesses on-site, including weddings, conferences, Animal Park & Gardens, The Estate Shop, Cellar Bar & Café, and external equine events. All staff have the opportunity to assist and help out with these - one of the most popular is Lambing which takes place annually in March.

CAREERS & PROGRESSION Individualised CPD Teacher Training We encourage staff to take responsibility for Given the courses we deliver, teaching is their Continued Professional Development often a career choice for professionals (CPD). Additional support is available for currently working in the industry, whether a range of training opportunities, with or alongside existing roles or as career without achieving formal qualifications. All progression. We deliver training qualifications staff have access to over 600 online courses for teaching on campus and provide time, which include work-related subjects, health funding, a reduced timetable for your first and wellbeing advice, and leisure courses. two years in post, and access to experienced mentors for further support. A number Next Steps of our support staff completed teaching Whether you see your career progressing qualifications, and have progressed onto inside or outside of Kingston Maurward, a teaching role. shadowing specialists who are already working at the next level can help. Time Online Learning and support is provided for you to do this. We encourage you to ‘be brave and try something new’ and this particularly relates Association of Colleges, AoC to the current focus of online learning. There We are a member of the AoC, which has are also over 600 online courses covering a active regional groups for staff working in variety of topics available to all staff. For a variety of roles including Exams, Finance, more information, please contact HR. Healthcare, Health & Safety, Higher Education, Human Resources, Quality & Performance, Landex and Sports. These develop peer relationships We are members of this land-based Colleges and offer support with issues and changes group, where our Principal is a Director. This across the Further Education sector. provides peer support and specialist training.

Internal Promotion Service Leavers We aim to recruit 30% of vacancies from We recognise the value and work ethic existing staff annually; for the academic serving personnel, reservists, veterans and year 2019 - 2020, 39% of vacancies were military families can bring to the estate. We filled in this way. Many have progressed are an armed forces friendly organisation, from studying an apprenticeship through to are proud signatories of the Armed Forces instructor positions and teaching roles. This is Covenant, having obtained the Employer also the case for staff that started as Teaching Recognition Scheme Silver Award. We Assistants. support the employment of veterans and service leavers through the Career Transition The small size of the estate compared to Partnership (CTP). other campuses means that there is an opportunity to work collaboratively with other departments across the estate, both informally and through promotions and secondments. Supportive Teams Staff tell us that their departments are supportive, and their managers explain their expectations clearly and provide feedback on their progress. Part of our culture is going the extra mile and staff here are willing to help out when needed, across the organisation as a whole, whether a query, a new method to do something, or feeding animals during closure times.

HEALTH & WELLBEING Health Plans Counselling Through a third party, we offer a Health We have good contacts with several Cash Plan which is a taxable benefit and counsellors who can provide confidential means that staff can manage the cost of support and guidance to staff for any reason. everyday healthcare. They provide cash Working with staff on a case by case basis, reimbursements for dental check-ups, we will fund some counselling sessions. treatments, eye tests and glasses, or therapy fees. There is also access to supportive Sick Leave & Pay services including counselling and scans. Our occupational sick leave and sick pay scheme are above the statutory minimum Eye Tests and the benefit of paid leave increases in All staff who work regularly with computer line with the length of service worked. You screens can claim back the cost of their test. will work proactively with your manager to We will also provide a proportion of the cost agree to a supportive return to work with of glasses if they are required for solely arrangements agreed on a case by case screen use. basis where needed. Occupational Health Provision Online Support We use the services of a local NHS We signpost staff to a range of online Occupational Health Team, which undertakes wellbeing providers, including Education a range of health assessments for staff Support - a charity that supports the mental working in high-risk occupations. This includes health and wellbeing of all staff in education. lung function tests, hearing tests and checks They offer a free 24/7 helpline staffed by for hand-arm vibration. Individual referrals trained counsellors and a financial grant ensure support and guidance is available service for current and former education if needed as a result of accidents, illnesses, staff in financial difficulty. long-term sickness absence or difficulties whilst doing your job.

Annual Leave On-site Gym and Bouldering Wall To ensure you maintain a good work-life Available free-of-charge, for all staff to balance, we offer a generous annual leave use, our on-site gym includes a variety of entitlement, ranging from 25 to 35 days resistance machines, free weights, treadmills, per year depending on your job role. Leave a cardio section and a HIIT training area. entitlement is on top of the Public and Bank Holidays. In addition, annual leave increases Designed for all capabilities, our after 5 years’ service for staff in non-teaching bouldering wall offers various routes and roles, and we provide several paid closure is an excellent resource that both staff and days, which are normally around Christmas. students can enjoy. If you would like any advice, information or support in using the Sabbaticals and Career Breaks equipment, please speak to our qualified All staff have the opportunity to take an Outdoor Adventure and Sport & Fitness staff. unpaid sabbatical or career break. Some have benefitted from this by completing a Flexible Working higher level qualification or supporting To maintain a work-life balance and respond their families at a challenging time. to staff individual requirements, flexible working arrangements will be considered for Financial Advisors all staff on an individual basis. This can include Our HR department is in contact with financial varied working hours or days, term-time only advisors who can offer advice as part of their arrangements, annualised hours or partially development days and through individual working from home. appointments. Subsidised Outlets Cycle to Work Scheme Offering a variety of hot, and cold drinks, As part of our plan to be Carbon Net Zero cakes and pastries, and hot or cold snacks by 2025, and to benefit the environment, and pasties, all staff receive a reduced price we offer eligible staff the opportunity to buy in The Coach House Café, Classroom 4 Café, a tax-free bicycle for work use through a Barn Café, Cellar Bar and Café, and a discount 12-month salary sacrifice scheme. in the on-site lifestyle and farm shop, The Estate Shop. Free Parking Weddings Across the whole of our estate, we offer There is a 20% wedding venue discount for free parking for staff, students and visitors. all staff. For more information, email [email protected].



FAMILY & OTHER COMMITMENTS Compassionate Leave Reservists Leave Dependants’ leave is available to all staff to Usually training for around 30 days a year, deal with emergencies or provide occasional and consisting of mid-week evenings, some support to dependants. Paid compassionate weekends and a 15-day annual camp, we leave is available to all staff regardless of the offer our Reservists, and Cadet Force adult length of service. This is intended to assist volunteers an additional 10 days’ paid annual staff in the event of bereavement or serious leave with a flexible approach to when leave illness of a close family relative. is taken, to undertake training and cadet commitments. Parental Leave Spouses, partners, and parents of serving Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption military personnel can take a minimum of leave is available to all staff with more than 10 days’ paid compassionate leave per year 26 weeks’ service. Enhanced contractual as needed during times of a partner’s or maternity and adoption pay is available to child’s deployment, injury, or bereavement. all staff with a year’s service who meet specified criteria. Public Duties We support a reasonable amount of time off during working hours for staff to undertake public duties; for example, if you are a magistrate, a local councillor, a school governor, a member of a health authority, or a Trade Union member for necessary duties.

SUPPORT & SECURITY Trade Unions Pensions & Career Average We have strong and positive working Staff are eligible to join either the Local relationships with the Universities and Government Pension Scheme or the Teachers’ Colleges Union, UCU, and Unison. Staff are Pension Scheme, dependent on job role, and supported by both regional and local officers, we contribute financially to these schemes. who regularly attend full staff meetings, new Advice is provided by pension scheme staff induction days, and development days. specialists at development days and through online webinars. Contracts Key Worker Status This is the basis for your employment We recognise this for teaching staff, which relationship with us and as such, we seek to means you may be entitled to housing ensure the terms and conditions included schemes such as Shared Ownership or go over and above the statutory minimum Homebuy, both designed to help with wherever possible. This includes probationary buying and renting a property at reduced periods, annual leave entitlement and notice rates. Further details are available from periods. local authorities and housing associations. To provide job security for staff and stability Equal Opportunities Employer for the College and its students, from day Recruitment decisions are made on attitude, one of your employment, the notice period experience and qualifications. Personal for all ‘substantive’ staff is at least 2 months details are not shared at shortlisting stage. We on either side. The notice period for teachers hold the ‘Disability Confident’ accreditation, and managers is 3 months. We work with previously ‘Positive about Disabled People’, individuals on a case by case basis to extend and have signed the ‘Mindful Employer or reduce this as needed. Charter’ – for employers working towards better mental health in the workplace.

Ofsted Estate Security The College was judged to be ‘Good’ We employ Night Security Officers to maintain by Ofsted in 2017 and aspires to be the security of the estate out of hours. Many of ‘Outstanding’ in the quality of service our in-house security team live on-site, and we provided to students. In 2019, the College have good contact with the local police. was judged to be ‘Outstanding’ for its support to students in residential accommodation. Independent Colleges We remain one of the only independent land-based colleges in the country and are the only provider of land-based studies for 60 miles in any direction. We have a major strategic role in the development of Dorset’s rural economy, which although firmly rooted in our heritage as an agricultural provider, now spans the full range of land-based studies and beyond, from entry-level to degree level. Resolution to Concerns We encourage all staff to raise any concerns or ask for help at an early stage. Equally, we are not afraid to say ‘this isn’t good enough’, so that staff can be supported to improve their knowledge and performance where needed.

01305 215000 [email protected] Dorchester Dorset DT2 8PY