Benefits and support
Financial and wellbeing benefits available for UKGI employees*:
Rewarding your work
We operate a Performance Related Pay scheme of up to 20% of salary, awarded based on your performance and that of UKGI. Our “Above and Beyond” peer reward scheme recognises exceptional corporate contributions.
Time away when you need it**
We offer up to 30 days annual leave and 8 days of public holidays as well as the opportunity to apply for special leave and career breaks. We provide generous family leave above and beyond statutory entitlements, including six months maternity/shared parental/adoption leave on full pay. If you happen to fall ill, we will normally pay you up to five months at full pay and up to half pay for a further five months. We work with our occupational health provider to support your return to work and make any reasonable adjustments.
Financial support
For UKGI employees, we contribute 5% to the UKGI pension scheme with AVIVA. Interest free loans are available to purchase season tickets or for tenancy rental deposits.
Access to legal advice or counselling
We give you access to free, independent and confidential expert support through our Employee Assistance Programme, provided by Rightplace Wellness. This includes access to legal advice, counselling and to a wide range of information to enhance your wellbeing.
Save money on leisure
You have access to a leading lifestyle management portal with savings of up to 20% off high street retailers. You also have the option to join the CSSC – a membership organisation which provides a huge range of sports, leisure, health and retail opportunities at discounted prices.
Access to fitness facilities
You have access to an onsite gym and fitness facilities including bicycle parking, and we also offer a cycle to work scheme.
Developing your career
Colleagues are given opportunities to develop their career whilst doing work with significant social, economic and political impact:
Why work for UKGI?
UKGI brings in individuals from a broad range of professional backgrounds and equips them with the necessary skills to be successful. Colleagues were asked to talk about how working at UKGI has helped them in their career development, here’s what they said.
Structured learning
We invest heavily in a broad-ranging L&D programme to support your development and build the pipeline of talent for our future. We provide bespoke corporate governance and corporate finance training, developed with and delivered by the Institute of Directors. We also offer management and leadership programmes and seminar masterclasses on a range of technical, skills-based and behavioural topics for all staff.
Development conversations
We will do as much as we can to support your development needs and career aspirations. This starts with an annual development conversation between you, your line manager and L&D, which prompts structured learning suggestions, considerations for assigning work to you, and suggestions of other sources of development such as our mentoring and reverse mentoring scheme.
Career pathways
To support your development and career aspirations, you will have access to the Career Pathways which define what you need to do to perform within your role, make a lateral move or to progress upwards, with specific education, exposure and experience signposted to help you achieve your goals.
Apprenticeships
We have apprenticeships available if you would like to gain a formal qualification whilst working at UKGI.
Professional membership
We pay the professional subscriptions for your membership of recognised professional bodies relevant to your work.
Build your networks
Your exposure to the UKGI leadership team, Board and senior Whitehall colleagues will be extensive, both informally and through optional mentoring and reverse mentoring schemes. Undoubtedly, the network and experience gained at UKGI will be invaluable to your future career.
Workplace culture
Making UKGI a great place to work:
Inclusive community
Our values define who we are, what we stand for, how we behave and what we aspire to achieve. We continuously hold ourselves and each other accountable to the values and strive for improvement where we fall short. The values were refreshed with input from all colleagues to ensure they are reflective of the organisation. We place a high value on diversity and inclusion, and we have an ambitious diversity and inclusion strategy that reflects this.
Flexibility to suit you
UKGI is committed to building an environment which gives you control over where and when you want to work. Where: we operate a hybrid working environment giving colleagues the flexibility to decide whether to work from the office or home taking into account their team and personal priorities. When: we support a sustainable and balanced lifestyle for all colleagues. Many colleagues work reduced hours or have a flexible working pattern, and we have enabled simple bank holiday swaps for those with faith significance.
Working environment
When you work from the office, we operate in an open plan space in the heart of Westminster, equipped with a host of facilities including subsidised canteen and coffee shops, gym and secure cycle parking.
Socialise with colleagues
The Social Committee coordinates a variety of events to bring people from all teams within UKGI together.
Maintain your wellbeing
Our active Mental Health & Wellbeing committee runs regular awareness raising initiatives which highlight the importance of MH&W at work.
Supporting social causes
We have an active volunteering programme where you can use your skills to help others in the local community. Each colleague has three dedicated days leave to undertake volunteering activities for these or other organisations. We also offer Payroll Giving to enable a tax efficient means for you to donate to good causes through your salary. UKGI has achieved the Silver Payroll Giving Quality Mark Award for our commitment to Payroll Giving and corporate social responsibility.
Creating job satisfaction
Enabling you to get the best from your work:
Impacting societyYour work makes a real and meaningful difference and serves the national interest. You will have the opportunity to work on a variety of fascinating assignments giving you exposure to the unique work that we do in government. |
Empowered to deliverUKGI is a small organisation with relatively flat structure and our teams are empowered to drive forward projects and ideas. |
Collaborative teamsYou will work collaboratively with highly motivated and professional colleagues from a range of Civil Service and private sector backgrounds, with each team member bringing their unique skills and perspective to the team. Most colleagues work on multiple projects, meaning learnings can be shared across the organisation. |
Transparent communicationWe have structures in place to enable a two-way conversation with senior management and between peers, including strategy days, surveys, meetings, networks and Q&A sessions, to ensure colleagues’ voices are heard and views are acted upon to make UKGI a great place to work. |
Embrace your passionsUKGI’s different networks and workstreams enable colleagues to work on initiatives that interest them, such as diversity & inclusion, mental health and wellbeing or corporate social responsibility. |
* Employees joining on secondment will keep the terms and conditions of their employer.
** Subject to qualifying criteria