Colleague benefits
Discover an exceptional benefits package designed to enhance your wellbeing, support your career development, and provide the flexibility you need to thrive.
Agile and flexible working
Whether it be hybrid working, part time hours or just having some flexibility in managing your working day, many of our colleagues here at Keele enjoy flexible working practices. In fact, 78%* of our staff say that as long as they get their work done, they have the flexibility to work in a way that suits them.
Speak to the recruiting manager to find out more about what flexible or agile options could be available in your role.
(*of participants who took part in 2024 pulse survey)
Pay, pensions and annual leave
Remuneration - As well as competitive and progressive pay structures, we offer employees the opportunity to join the Universities Superannuation Scheme with generous employer contribution of up to 14.5%.
Annual leave - Our staff enjoy 30 days annual leave, plus additional Christmas leave days and a further 8 days bank holiday. There’s also an option for staff to apply to purchase up to an additional 4 weeks leave per annual leave year. (Pro rata for part-time staff).
Real Living Wage - We proudly meet the Real Living Wage, ensuring fair pay that reflects actual living costs, beyond the government’s national minimum.
Professional development
At Keele University, we’re dedicated to fostering your professional growth.
Our staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities - whether through in-person sessions, our dedicated online learning platform, or LinkedIn Learning.
External training is supported where appropriate for accredited programmes, workshops, and conferences to enhance your skills.
Plus, eligible staff can benefit from up to a 30% discount on tuition fees for postgraduate courses at Keele.
Family-friendly
Keele is committed to supporting colleagues with parenting and caring responsibilities and offer a range of generous family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity/partner leave.
We also have a purpose-built, outstanding-rated nursery on-site and offer a nursery fee salary sacrifice scheme.
Health and wellbeing support
The University is committed to providing a healthy and fulfilling working environment and improving the quality of working lives for all staff.
To support staff in staying healthy at work, we offer a wide range of wellbeing support, including 24 hour access to staff counselling; access to physiotherapy, rehabilitation and holistic therapies; annual flu vaccinations; on-site gym and sports facilities, and much more.
Green campus
Keele is a beautiful place to work. It’s set in over 600 acres of countryside and woodland, with lakes, streams and landscaped gardens that support a wealth of wildlife. Keele is one of the biggest in campuses in the UK, but maintains a small and cosmopolitan community.
On-campus facilities include a range of restaurants and cafes, shops, post office, pharmacy and a Sports Centre. We are less than an hour away from Manchester and Birmingham by train.
Sustainability is embedded in everything we do at Keele. Since 1990, we’ve trebled our student population and significantly expanded our campus - whilst simultaneously decreasing our total CO2 emissions. And over the last six years, we've invested over £1.2m into carbon reduction - and will be investing more every year.
Equality and diversity
Keele is committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into all that we do. We understand the importance of creating and inclusive environment where the rights and dignity of our staff and students are upheld and where every individual is valued and able to reach their potential.
Our students, academics and professional staff are drawn from over 100 different countries. We celebrate this diversity and this rich mix of cultures provides opportunities for all staff and students to live, work and socialise in an international environment.
Our Equality objectives embody the University’s ambition and our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to our success.
To support our diverse community there are several staff networks (including parents and carers forum, BAME staff network, LGBTQI+ staff network, Disability & Accessibility staff network, International staff network) that colleagues can join.
Financial support and staff housing
Our staff benefits include a comprehensive financial assistance package for those moving from further afield (subject to eligibility), including:
- Generous relocation package
- Visa Reimbursement Scheme
- Visa Loan scheme
For more information on staff housing, please visit our dedicated staff housing pages.
Additional benefits and discounts
- The University works with three recognised Trade Unions (UCU, Unison and Unite). Staff can opt to become a Trade Union member and access the range of services and support they provide.
- Keele University has a team of chaplains who work closely together to serve those of all faiths and of none.
- All current Keele staff are entitled to download a copy of Microsoft Office 365 on up to 5 personally-owned devices, free of charge.
- 20% discount at our on-site veterinary practice, Garden Vets at Keele.
- Discounted rate at our on-campus hotel, Courtyard by Marriot.
- Totem card.