lecturer

mental health technician

faculty

recruiter

senior administrator

Bishop-Grosseteste-University

Completely dysfunctional. For many years now this so-called university has been locked in a negative downward spiral that senior leadership seem incapable of arresting: falling student recruitment numbers have led to less investment in staff and facilities which has in turn led to falling student recruitment numbers which has in turn led to ... (and so on and so forth). The result, as of 2019, is that nothing works properly, everything is outdated, underfunded or understaffed, no-one is happy, and everyone is trying to leave. No doubt due to the increased pressures that they too are under, senior leadership have become: 1. increasingly "top-down" in their style of management and thus (unsurprisingly) terrible at communicating or listening to staff ideas/concerns/thoughts; 2. utterly distant and removed from staff on the ground, viewing us with total indifference rather than as colleagues; and 3. pretty confrontational and intimidatory in their management style. Redundancies are probably coming soon enough; but in any case, if I was looking for a job in higher education, I'd probably look first for a vacancy at one of the other 120-ish universities that currently sit above us in all UK good university guides. This place is the higher education equivalent of telesales: you do it only as a last resort in order to keep the wolf from the door and pay your bills.

Below senior levels there are such good people here - a place with so much untapped potential. And yet the culture that's developed is morale sapping: I experienced distant, authoritarian management who appear quite callous and indifferent to staff well-being, a threadbare campus in need of serious investment (particularly in terms of systems), and a large proportion of academic colleagues who are actually "only" hourly-paid. Biggest negative: threat of redundancy is something that's left hanging over you all the time. As an academic staffer, it weirdly feels like recruiting students is 100% your responsibility. There is, of course, a (large) recruitment and marketing team - and to be fair they pull out all the stops to keep the show on the road. But when things aren't going well, and when targets aren't met, the audit-trail of blame always devolves onto the shoulders of academic members of staff. If you don't meet unrealistic recruitment expectations, on a shoestring budget and with barely enough staff to fill teaching hours let alone do recruitment work, then it's always made to feel only too clear that your job/course is under serious threat. Difficult to work under those conditions all the time - stressful, completely exhausting and, like I say, morale sapping.

I worked here as a "Visiting Tutor" (a student facing name for a position that is basically zero-hours). I mean, it was "ooookay," but put it this way - I won't say I wasn't SUPER glad to get out and join a different uni which feels very, very different to this place!! Overall sense I got was good, well meaning staff but a system suffering from long-term under-investment. Campus, teaching rooms, support services - nothing looked, felt or functioned professionally, with the result that you ended up feeling pretty "blah" yourself. I did a whole load of teaching to make up for the place having v. few full-time staff. But all VTs are paid for is direct teaching, which means you don't really develop any rapport with students via personal tutorials (etc.). Harms their uni experience and yours. Also no office space for VTs, which hardly makes you feel welcome or cared about! Staff below senior levels were great and did their best to help, but they're under massive pressure themselves (I got the impression they were SERIOUSLY not happy in their jobs!) So yeah: if you get the chance for a VT post here, absolutely brilliant - go for it, get it on your CV, get the experience and get networking. But don't expect a morale boosting, professionally enriching experience and be thinking about moving on before too long!

Bishop Grosseteste University is currently going through an exciting period of growth and it is an excellent place to work for someone who is looking for future career development and the relevant training/support and guidance required in order to achieve this. Various training courses and professional development opportunities are offered on a regular basis for staff of all levels and BG is keen to ensure that employees with ambition are given the chance to grow and develop within the business. BG seems as though it is becoming a more positive and forward thinking place to work and it is reflected in the introduction of new employee benefits such as Perkbox and a free counselling service and 24/7 GP Employee Assistance Programme, showing that BG is investing more in employee health and wellbeing and is putting it at the forefront of its plans going forward.

Shambolic organisation. Management cannot even "talk the talk", and certainly "stagger the walk". 

Senior leadership have never led at a respected University, and the bank balance is protected by guaranteed income, rather than generated through leadership and acumen.

IT is a joke, staffed by technically unqualified, second careerists (mostly RAF) awaiting pension or pay off, or like management, semi-professionals unsuitable to hold their title. This is reflected in the unhelpful and unwilling attitude, and below average IT provision across the campus, just ask any BG student, or the auditor. And where did that IT director disappear to?

Willingness, imitative or best practice will "rock the boat" in this organisation, and if you exercise any of these, you will have an uncomfortable and dead career.

The culture does not value the contribution its employees make. Rather than promote from within, there appears to be a belief that bringing in someone from outside will always provide the desired solution. 

If you just want to do your job and enjoy great pension benefits then fine, this is the place for you. If you are ambitious, have new ideas and want to challenge established ways of doing things then please, do not consider BGU. 

There is also an established culture of "us and them" practiced by many of the academic staff (who are in the minority) and fail to recognise that we stand, or fall, together.

Really enjoyed my time at BGU, great people who are pleasant and helpful determined to help make a difference at the University. The University has gone through a large period of change over the last 12 months resulting in some extremely positive changes. The University has a firm plan to grow over the next few years which has resulted in the recruitment of strategic and capable Senior leaders to replace those stuck in the dark ages and unwilling to change. The University now has a clear strategy and business plan since the Director of Planning post was removed.

A great place to work if you are a seeking a challenging and changing environment. Excellent perks and benefits too.

This organisation is a shambles!  As other reviewers have noted "antiquated", The majority of the staff are wonderful and do an excellent job given the circumstances. The circumstances being management. They are out of their depth and would not survive a financial year in a commercial or Russell Group university. This is reflected in the shambolic administration procedures, data management and IT systems. If it was not for am almost guaranteed income, students, this place would be out of business. Take the money, make great friends but do your career and reputation a favour and move on asap.

Terrible place to work. Toxic environment, particularly for the very few academic staff who still work here. You aren't treated like a professional; you're treated like you don't matter. Job insecurity is perennial. No research support, no ability to secure research funding, no ability to do anything that academics need to do to develop their careers. Why? Because the university isn't really a proper uni - it wants student bums on seats to pay exorbitant senior management salaries. Do your CV a favour and leave well alone.

Working as a School Administrator at Bishop Grosseteste is a very worthwhile/rewarding position.  Working as part of a friendly team, flexible working and varied duties means there is never time to be bored.  

Having good communication skills and listening skills are important as helping to answer students queries are part of the role.  

Time management skills are also important as there are deadlines that need to be met for assignment hand-in and hand-back dates.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Lecturer 5 salaries reported	£46,203 per year
Mental health technician 2 salaries reported	£33,990 per year
Faculty 2 salaries reported	£12.59 per hour
Recruiter 1 salary reported	£23,910 per year
Senior administrator 2 salaries reported	£24,960 per year

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