Recruitment FAQs

As a growing and highly successful provider of further, adult and higher education, with 18,000 students from over 100 nationalities, 750 staff and excellent financial health, we are proud of our reputation and achievements.

We are a values-driven organisation and we have three core values that underpin all we do and put the student at the heart. Our values are

• Student Focus: We will seek to achieve a high quality learning experience for every student.
• High Performance: We will strive for consistently high levels of performance in all aspects of our work.
• Respect, Openness and Honesty: We will treat everyone with respect, encourage openness and honesty and recognise each other’s contribution and achievements.

As an employer, we recruit people who empathise with and can deliver our values and who can work proactively to maintain our outstanding status. We aim to ensure that employee recruitment and selection is planned and carried out to meet these aims with a focus on ensuring a positive experience for each applicant, no matter what the outcome of his/her application.

What our employees say about us

Every two years we carry out a survey of our employees to take the “emotional temperature” of the College. To enable us to understand and act on any issues raised, the survey is then followed up with occasional staff focus groups. Headlines from our most recent staff survey show that:

• Job Satisfaction We have a job satisfaction score of 91%.

  Overall, 89% of staff rate Bedford College as an excellent employer.

• Development Opportunities 91% of staff value the development opportunities available at Bedford College.

  86% of staff agree that the development opportunities at Bedford College are exceptional.

What others say about us

We are recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and in addition have external recognition through:

• Investor in People
• Positive about Disabled People
• Investors in Diversity
• Mindful Employer
• Louder than Words Charter Mark
• Healthy FE College
• 157 Group
• European Foundation Quality Management 5 Star (EFQM)
• Beacon College status
• Matrix quality standard for information, advice and guidance services

Where is Bedford College?

The largest College site is in Cauldwell Street and is a pleasant, riverside campus, less than five minutes walk from Bedford town centre and close to the rail and bus stations. We have a number of specialist sites including:

• a town-centre IT skills centre in Bedford
• modern, well equipped Gas & Plumbing and Motor Vehicle Technology Centres in Kempston
• IT skills centres located in Rushden and Luton
• Shuttleworth College (Land-Based services) at Old Warden Park, Biggleswade
• The Mansion House (Bedford College Services Ltd) at Old Warden Park, Biggleswade

How many students are there?

Across all of our sites, including full and part-time learners, there are literally thousands of people enrolled on our courses.

How do I get to the College?

We have excellent transport links, being close to both the M1 and the A1 and mainline railway stations in Bedford, Luton and Sandy (Biggleswade). There is an international airport in Luton with a direct rail link to Bedford and London. Our sites in Rushden, Old Warden Park, and Kempston are close to major road links. You may want to find out about sustainable transport to and around the College.

Where is the Human Resources office?

The Human Resources Team is located at Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AH.  We can be contacted by telephone on 01234 291 008 or by email to recruitment@bedford.ac.uk.

How how do I apply?

For each vacancy there is an application form, equal opportunities monitoring form, person specification and job description. To apply you must complete the application form and the equal opportunities monitoring form and ensure that we receive them on or before the closing date. To ensure that there is no delay in receiving your application form, please use use the online form available on the 'Apply for advertised vacancies' page. If you are not able to email, please post your form to Human Resources, Bedford College, Caudwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AH.

Will Bedford College accept my CV instead of the application form?

Your CV will not be accepted instead of an application form. This assists us in the short-listing process and ensures that all applicants have a similar opportunity to present their skills, experience and qualifications to us. You are welcome to include a CV as part of the additional information you provide with your application form. However, if you do not use our application form, your application will not be considered.

What should I include on my application form?

You should include any information you think is necessary to show us that you meet the requirements of the person specification and that you are able, or have the potential, to carry out the duties described in the job description. Where we have used the term ‘or equivalent’ on the person specification please include details of qualifications/training and/or knowledge/experience which you believe meet our stated requirements. Our preferred way of contacting you is by email, so please ensure that you provide a current email address on the application form. To assist us, please also include on your application form contact telephone numbers (preferably a mobile and a landline) which we may use to contact you during the day/early evening.

What happens to my application once it has been received by Bedford College?

Following the closing date for applications, the line manager responsible for the vacancy reviews the applications and shortlists with advice from Human Resources. This advice is to ensure that we meet our commitments to applicants declaring a disability and to black and minority ethnic applicants.

What do I do if I am interested in occasional work?

We welcome applications from potential associates. Associates work with us on an occasional basis or for a specific number of hours per week for up to a maximum of nine calendar months. Our associates teach or provide support services and they work with and are supported by core (permanent) staff under an Associate Agreement with a specified start and end date and are hourly paid.

Our Associate opportunities usually attract a high volume of interest. As a result, we regret that we are unable to acknowledge or provide feedback on initial expressions of interest or applications from potential Associates. However, if we wish to take your interest further we will contact you to invite you to interview and will confirm the outcome of this process to you by email.

What happens to my equal opportunities monitoring form once it has been received by Bedford College?

The details you provide on this form are confidential. If you are appointed the details are kept as part of your personal record. They are not made available to the line manager or to interviewers during the shortlisting stage. However, they are used by members of the Human Resources Team to check the shortlisting process as set out above. If you are appointed, the details are kept as part of your personal record.

Will my application be acknowledged?

For advertised vacancies and opportunities, we do not confirm that your application form has been received. We do, however, write to all applicants following the shortlisting process to confirm whether or not you have been shortlisted to take part in the selection process. If you are unsuccessful, we offer developmental feedback on request to Human Resources at recruitment@bedford.ac.uk.

How are shortlisting decisions made?

All applications are considered based on the match to the essential and desirable criteria set out in the person specification. It is therefore essential that when you complete your application you pay close attention to the criteria contained within the person specification and ensure that you have set out fully in your application how you meet these requirements.

In line with the Equality Act 2010, if you describe yourself as disabled, requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered in the application and selection process. To meet our commitment as a "Positive about Disabled People" employer, if you describe yourself as disabled in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, you will be shortlisted if you meet the minimum essential criteria as set out on the person specification.

How long does the shortlisting process take?

Generally speaking, we aim to complete the shortlisting process within a maximum of two weeks from the closing date for applications for advertised vacancies.

How will I know if my application has been selected for the next stage in the process?

Following the completion of the shortlisting stage, we will inform all applicants by letter or email to advise them whether or not they have been selected for the next stage.

What should I expect if I am invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process?

Typically, we will invite you by email to attend one or more interviews with appropriate members of staff. We may also ask you to undertake practical assessment exercises relevant to the vacancy for which you have applied. Your email inviting you to interview will set out what you will be asked to do and the names of the people you will see. You will be interviewed individually and will not be expected to take part in group interviews or activities unless these have been notified to you in advance as part of the selection process.

When will the College take up my references?

We will take up references before interview for all shortlisted candidates and our offers are made subject to satisfactory references being received.

Where will I go for my interview?

Interviews are usually held at Cauldwell Street. If interviews are held at another site this will be clearly stated in the letter inviting you to interview.

Can I park my car at Cauldwell Street?

Parking at Cauldwell Street is limited due to our location. There are student and staff car parks on site. However, due to the limitations of the site, we cannot guarantee that space will be available if you are attending an interview but there are many public car parks within Bedford. The closest is Melbourne Street which is less than five minutes’ walk from the College.

Is there anywhere to buy refreshments?

At Cauldwell Street we have a refectory open from early morning through to late afternoon during term time and until mid afternoon during holiday periods. The refectory sells a range of hot and cold food, sandwiches, snack items and a variety of hot and cold drinks. There are also vending machines located in the refectory stocked with confectionery and drinks. During term time the Skyline Restaurant at Cauldwell Street serves lunch in a more formal setting.

At Old Warden Park we have the Garden Restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. In Luton, Rushden and Kempston town there are many nearby food outlets.

Can I claim expenses for taking part in the selection process?

In most cases, we do not reimburse any expenses.

In exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Director of Organisation Development and agreed before the interview, we may consider contributing to any travel or accommodation expenses you incur. If you wish to discuss this in more detail, please contact us on 01234 291008 or emailing recruitment@bedford.ac.uk before you make your arrangements to travel to attend your interview.

Please note that we will be unable to consider your application for a contribution towards your travel expenses if it is made after you have attended your interview.

How long will my interview take?

Your email inviting you to take part in the selection process will include a specific interview time. Interviews usually take up to an hour. If you have been asked to complete a practical assessment, this could take up to a further 45 minutes. Occasionally you will be expected to remain with us for longer periods but this will be confirmed in the letter inviting you to attend the interview. You will not usually be expected to spend all day at an interview.

If I am successful, how and when will I know?

You will receive a letter from us to let you know the outcome of each interview or assessment stage within 7-10 calendar days.

If I am successful, will I be offered a relocation package?

In most cases, we do not offer any assistance with relocation expenses. For some nationally advertised jobs, depending on the job to be offered and the likely duration and difficulty of the normal daily commuting journey, we may offer limited relocation assistance at the discretion of the Director of Organisation Development.

If I am offered a job…

...will I need to complete CRB checks/Disclosure?

Our jobs are offered subject to pre-employment checks for the right to live and work in the UK and pre-employment checks on the nationally-held barred lists identifying people who are barred from working with children and vulnerable adults. All jobs are offered subject to these pre-employment checks and for this reason you are asked to give us your date of birth and previous names on the equal opportunities monitoring form. You will also be asked to apply for a CRB disclosure at enhanced level before you start working with us. When you are offered a job, we will write to you to explain what you need to do meet these requirements.

...how much holiday will I be entitled to?

If you are offered a job within a support function, e.g. Student Services, Finance, Administration, or as a trainer, assessor or instructor, you will be entitled to 27 days holiday each year and up to an additional three days between Christmas and New Year plus Bank Holidays in England and Wales (pro rata for part time staff).

If you are offered a job as a lecturer, senior trainer, assistant director (within a teaching function) or director, you will be entitled to 35 days holiday each year and up to an additional three days between Christmas and New Year plus Bank Holidays in England and Wales (pro rata for part time staff).

BCS Ltd employees have 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays in England and Wales (pro rata for part time staff).

...what sort of pension scheme do you offer?

At present, we offer employees access to a final salary pension scheme:

• the Local Government Pension Scheme for support staff, managers of support functions
• Teachers’ Pensions for lecturers, senior trainers, teaching managers, trainers, assessors and instructors

and for BCS Ltd employees a stakeholder pension offering up to a 3% employer contribution matched to the employee contribution.

...will I have a probation period?

When you start a new job, you will have a probation period to ensure that you make an effective start and are happy in your new job. Depending on your job, your probation period will either be for six or nine months and this will be specified in your contract.

...will the College provide me with any training and development?

We provide a wide variety of opportunities to develop job-related skills and knowledge, including the opportunity to work towards appropriate qualifications. We offer all employees the opportunity to take PTLLS (the first stage teaching qualification).

If you wish to pursue a non-work related course in your own time, employees are eligible for the staff discount scheme and can take any of our directly funded courses for 20% of the advertised fee. Please note that you will be responsible for any registration or exams fees.

...what employee benefits are available?

We offer:

• Employee Assistance Programme (confidential and impartial information, advice and counselling)
• Attendance vouchers
• Mini health check and health advice
• Qualification payments for specified qualification priorities
• Childcare vouchers
• Discounted dining
• Discounted beauty, health and gym facilities
• Salary sacrifice Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• Discounted fees on any funded College course at 20% of the advertised fee
• Career development advice

If you experience any difficulties in downloading our documents or information, please contact the Recruitment Team on 01234 291 008 or by email to recruitment@bedford.ac.uk.

We hope you have found these FAQs both useful and inspirational. We look forward to receiving your application and we hope to see you soon.