Union of Students University of Derby

Who we are

So, what does the Union of Students actually do?

The University of Derby Students' Union is a company limited by guarantee (trading as the Union of Students, University of Derby), registered in England and Wales, and a registered Charity (1169283). We are a democratic, membership-led Union.  We provide services and support to our members, the students at the University of Derby, which enable them to develop their skills for future careers, provide a source of fun and enjoyment, offer opportunities to meet new people and become active citizens through volunteering. We also provide a broad range of commercial services which include bar and kitchen venues, coffee shops and several retail outlets.

We are a value driven organisation, existing to meet the needs of our members who are students at the University of Derby. Every University is required to have a Students’ Union by virtue of the 1994 Education Act, the broad objective for each Union is to represent the needs of students to the University, provide where relevant welfare services, ensure there are opportunities to play sport and engage on recreational activities and to run free and fair elections for our own governance.

We are led by students, for students and our purpose is to be a Union that is devoted to the educational interests and welfare of its members.

We have a team of up to 37 permanent employees and up to 50+ part-time student employees all of whom play a key role in delivering a wide range of activities and support services for students. We provide a high level of student representation at the University via our three full time elected Officer Trustees:

President, Vice President (Activities), Vice President (Education) and Vice President (Welfare).

Our Vision:

To have a positive impact on every student.

Our Mission:

To be relevant to every single student, ensuirng that they know the Union offers something for them.

Our values:

Are the rules we follow when no one is looking, that will help us make decsions when the way forward is not clear. Our values are the epitome of who we are and what we strive to be,

• Student Led
• Transformative
• Supportive
• Empowering
• Challenging

Our 5 strategic priorities:

1. Awareness and understanding of the Union of Students
2. Supporting students’ needs
3. Accessibility and Inclusion
4. Digital provision
5. Easing students’ financial pressures

Annual leave for our employees:

The annual leave year runs from 1st August to 31st July. Holiday entitlement is 28 days per annum and is increased after 3 years’ service to 30 days, and again after 5 years’ service to 31 days (pro rata for part time salaried employees). In addition to this entitlement, our employees also receive paid leave during bank holidays and University closure days, for example for 2021/22 equates to around 14 days per annum (pro rata for part time salaried employees). In addition, all permanent staff can take a day off for their Birthday!

Homeworking:

Homeworking is understood to mean working from home on an occasional, temporary, or permanent basis. It simply means that employees conduct their job from home with the same contractual obligations, such as core working hours. The Union recognises that homeworking working can be beneficial for individuals and, to this end, will seek to accommodate it wherever possible.

Occupational schemes:

There is an Occupational Pension scheme, subject to the qualifying period and the highly popular occupational health scheme offered by Westfield Health (on successful completion of the probationary period).

Our work environment:

We encourage enquiries from everyone and value diversity for our employees. We are willing to consider flexible working arrangements and invite you to talk to us if you wished to consider a variation on the hours advertised.  We champion equal opportunities, equality, and dignity in the workplace, making this a safe environment to work in. We want to foster a supportive and diverse work environment for our employees which is able to respond to the needs of individual employees and the collective voice of the employee team via the Staff Wellbeing Committee. We are committed to allocating funding towards the development of our team ethos through events and activities as well as celebratory occasions and informal gatherings. 

Reward and recognition:

We are committed to attracting, developing, and retaining the highest quality of employees. In order to do this, the Union seeks to create an environment everyone feels valued and acknowledged for their contribution to the Union and who feel supported in their career aspirations. We recognise that employees want to be paid fairly and appropriately for the work that they do and that they want their contribution to be valued. Every member of staff who meets our ‘Performance Development Review’ standards are eligible for the annual Pay Award paid from 1 August each year.

Training and development opportunities:

We are firmly committed to the career development of its employees to ensure continued business success.  We are committed to developing employees that are professional in approach as well as being highly motivated. All this is essential to allow us to develop and grow the Union and provide rewarding career options for all employees in line with personal abilities.