The recognisable start of the University Plymouth Colleges story began in the mid 1970s. During the late 1970s and early 1980s relationships started to develop between Plymouth Polytechnic and a small number of FE colleges in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. There was a trend for colleges to further develop and extend day-release programmes and at the same time to move into general vocational education, including: training schemes for the unemployed, vocational preparation programmes and academic education in the form of 'A' levels.Even with these modest developments, by the early 1980s, nationally around 20% of HE students were in Further Education Colleges [FECs]. The mid-70s also saw the first Access programmes, originally in the inner London area but they quickly grew to cover the country and involved links between Polytechnics and local FE colleges. This was accompanied by an increase in demand, particularly from mature students, women returners and people in employment for locally-available higher education opportunities. This was a significant development as further partnerships and franchises of higher education courses developed from such agreements.Since this time, UPC has grown from its modest start in 1989 when the newly named Polytechnic South West recognised that the opportunities for higher level study in the region's scattered rural environment were limited. It entered into a partnership agreement with local colleges and, with an initial intake of just 450 students, what was to become the UPC network was born. By 2007, this had grown to 9,500 students studying on University of Plymouth programmes at 20+ locations stretching from Bristol to Penzance and from Barnstaple to the Channel Islands.
The well-being of our staff and students is a top priority and we are committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment which contributes to the overall experience. We continually strive to improve the range of facilities and support available.A few of the key benefits designed to help maintain and support employees’ well-being include: Leave entitlementsAnnual leave: Senior managers, Professors, Academics, Researchers and staff on professional terms and conditions (grade 7 and above) are entitled to 35 days leave per annum. Professional Services staff (grade 6 and below) and Operational facilities staff are entitled to 20 days leave per annum, rising to 25 days after five years service.Statutory holidays: Employees are entitled to statutory public holidays and an additional period of leave during the closure of the university at the end of December. Leave for emergency domestic situations: e.g. accident or sudden illness of children or other dependantsMaternity leave and pay: arrangements apply to all female staff, which includes a university maternity pay scheme for those who have been employed by the university for at least 52 weeks ending with the expected date of childbirth. For mothers returning to work the university has a policy and facilities for specifically for nursing.Paternity leave and pay: a maximum of 2 weeks leave during which you will receive half your normal weekly pay for the first week and statutory paternity pay for the second week.Adoption leave and pay: if you have 26 weeks qualifying service you are entitled to take up to 52 weeks leave. Staff who qualify for statutory adoption pay are also entitled to university adoption pay of either 4 or 8 weeks full pay entitlement. Flexible WorkingFlexi time for professional services staff: allows you to change your pattern or total hours of working through discussions with your manager (taking into consideration the needs of the business)Right to request flexible working: If you are carers of relatives, partners and people living with you or your children are aged under 17 years (or if your child is disabled, aged under 18), you may apply to work flexibly to help you care for your child, children or other dependant. ChildcareFreshlings nursery: offers childcare to staff and students of the University of Plymouth. Given a glowing Ofsted report in 2008 the nursery offers a flexible service with both part-time and full-time care available. Sessions are usually compatible with either a working week or timetable demands. Child care voucher scheme: The University of Plymouth has implemented a child-care voucher scheme in conjunction with Accor services. Childcare vouchers are the most flexible, effective and popular way we can offer assistance to working parents, helping you to save money on childcare. They offer the flexibility for you to choose pre-school and out of school childcare of a type and in a location most convenient to you. Childcare vouchers help to improve your working lives, helping you to balance work with caring responsibilities. Employee support Employee assistance programme: (EAP) to support all employees by supplying confidential help and advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The EAP, is a free service which offers practical information and counselling for a wide range of work and personal issues including financial problems, stress, life changes, legal matters, and anxiety and depression. This is provided by Workplace Options (formerly Employee Advisory Resource - EAR), which has been delivering similar services since 1981. Occupational health service: which provides advice on both employment and other health issues.University chaplaincy: this includes a multi-faith prayer room LeisureRecreation Services: provide extensive facilities on campus to support your health & wellbeing. A multipurpose sports hall, a fitness suite where you can also ask advice on personal training programmes and fitness testing as well as a large range of exercise classes throughout the day and evening. Recreation also provide a full range of discounted watersport activities based at Mount Batten watersports centre.
We recruit to a wide range of posts including academic and teaching, research roles, technical and management opportunities.
We also have jobs and careers in professional services including administrative / clerical positions in areas across the University. Whatever your interest area: arts, education, health, science, technology, business, medicine, dentistry, marine science, recreation, human resources, governance, planning, marketing, finance, sustainability, computing, research or enterprise, amongst others, we have the career opportunities here for you either on our main Plymouth campus or off site in Exeter, Taunton, Truro, Pool and Camborne. We also offer jobs for facilities support staff who help make the day to day lives of our employees and students run as smoothly as possible.
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Headquarters
Drake Circus
Plymouth
Devon
PL4 8AA