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Life at the University

Here at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), we strive to ensure that all employees feel they are valued and important members of the wider University community. Our employees play a crucial role in allowing the University to fulfil its goals, and we aim to provide a satisfying working environment - in which people are happy and motivated.

Students sat down chatting with laptop in Student Centre

Our values

Our values reflect who we are as a university and what we stand for. They define the things that are most important to us and nurture a sense of shared purpose.

They reflect our ambitious nature, inspire us to constantly improve and to enrich the lives of our students, our colleagues and the communities we serve.

Achieving Together
We achieve our ambitions through teamwork and collaboration.
Being Proud
We take responsibility for and professional pride in the quality of our work.
Creating Opportunity
We proactively create and seize every opportunity to flourish in education, at work and for life.
Supporting All
Everyone matters. We show support, respect and compassion for our students, colleagues and communities.

"The university continues to offer me the same development opportunities as an employee as it did as a student."

— Jennifer Deighton, colleague and current student

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Benefits

Whilst working at the University, you will enjoy a number of excellent rewards and benefits, as well as the support to ensure you progress and develop in your role.

  • Flexible working
    We operate a flexible working hour's scheme for most support roles, as well as generous annual leave.
  • Training and development
    We deliver many learning and development opportunities and encourage colleague progression.
  • Pension scheme
    You'll be eligible to join an occupational pension scheme; for Professional Services colleagues this is offered by Royal London; for Academic colleagues, this is offered by the Teachers' Pension Scheme.
  • Discounted travel
    We offer a range of travel discounts to colleagues to reduce your travel costs. We also work in conjunction with CycleScheme.
  • Pre-School Centre
    You'll have access to our high quality, Ofsted regulated pre-school and nursery, to help with childcare.
  • Equality Colleague Networks
    We have supported the establishment of four Colleague Network Groups concerned with equality and diversity.
  • Discounted sports membership
    We offer all colleagues a generously discounted membership of our sports facilities. For £9.99 a month you’ll have access to our Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre on campus (Preston) which includes exercise classes and fitness instruction.
View of the student centre from amongst the flower beds

Masterplan

We’ve spent £200 million on transforming our Preston Campus to give it a world-class makeover as part of our Campus Masterplan. You’ll love our stunning new Student Centre, which offers plenty of spaces to work independently or meet colleagues for a coffee. Our 1828 café offers snacks, cakes and hot drinks, and the building also features a rooftop terrace – the perfect place to take in the views of Preston and eat your lunch.

The new public square outside the Student Centre draws together the University with the city like never before. The long-term vision is to spark a major focus on regeneration and business investment in the University quarter, reinforce the University’s ties to the local community and create wider benefits for Preston and beyond.

Our new Engineering Innovation Centre is an advanced, state-of-the-art £35 million facility providing an integrated space for teaching, research and direct links with industry allowing students to work on live, real-world projects with commercial partners.

We also have two excellent social spaces on campus, creating the perfect place to plan work, catch a brew with colleagues and take a break in a relaxed environment.