ID016 A Centralised On Campus Jobs Service

The Idea

Implement a centralised on-campus jobs service akin to franchised models using providers such as Unitemps, Keystone etc. Providing a 360-degree recruitment service, managing everything from advertisement to compliance and payroll. This is an opportunity to modernise our approach, building on the high demand we see from students for work, align systems, as well as meet the potential demand from internal (Catering, Library, Schools) and external (Science Park, local) areas for casual staff, yet recruitment is currently fragmented and cumbersome in parts, using legacy systems that need replacing. 

The on-campus service would bring a range of benefits around the student experience from well-being, mental health, financial support, skills development, creating belonging etc leading to the support of retention, continuation, progression, graduate outcomes, community engagement and much more. See Key Findings from the HEPI Report Student Working Lives.

The key findings of the report are: 

• Impact on study – students who worked under 20 hours per week are more likely to be on track for good honours degrees. 
• Job quality matters – students in flexible, supportive and more meaningful roles are significantly more likely to achieve good honours degrees. 
• Students are time poor – students are working so many hours that studies often come second, with many missing out on core academic and extracurricular experiences. 
• Casual contracts and low pay dominate – 38% of students are on zero-hours or casual contracts and 43% report stress, anxiety or depression caused or worsened by work. 
• Workplace support is lacking – only 32% of students feel supported by their managers and just 38% by colleagues. 

Why This Idea Should Be Considered

An on-campus job services maybe hosted on site but would have a wider remit and operate both internally & externally as demonstrated by franchised models such as Unitemps, Keystone etc. The initial focus would be to meet the internal demand and offer temporary staffing solutions. As an agency model we would expand the offering beyond Keele to develop partnerships, maximise opportunities for our students, graduates, build talent pipelines, target local businesses, making Keele the first choice for student & graduate talent. 

An on-campus jobs service would offer the following benefits: 

1. Financial Savings: Immediate savings on VAT, hire & mark-up costs internally and could generate revenue when supplying students to local businesses  
2. Recruitment:  Using the Offer as a strong selling point for prospective students, parents/carers, supporting the cost of living & providing safe work environments especially for international students  
3. Skills, Professional Practice & Wellbeing: Development of skills, exposure to professional environments, access to paid opportunities, support retention, continuation, wellbeing, mental health and improved Graduate Outcomes  
4. Student visa, trusted sponsor compliance:  System manages working hours, visa’s, protecting the University and international students (a key concern recently)  
5. Efficiencies: Offers systems that can manage admin, payroll burden, flex to meet changing needs and offer rapid response times   
6. Student Satisfaction:  Meets a need from students during a cost-of-living crisis, gives access to opportunities which could be on-site, off site and locally to them 

How We Would Implement This Idea

Initial scoping: The scoping of the project is essential to assess the viability, set-up costs, risks, timeline, alongside the expected return on investment.

1. Map demand currently ie all temp & contract work (ambassadors, library, catering, departmental & schools, SU, Business Park etc.) via Finance, RIE & all internal users 
2. Internal system mapping with IDS, Finance (payments, payroll & related systems) and HR (recruitment journey) 
3. Cost of set-up and running franchise models including challenges and good practices – Contact appropriate providers ie  Unitemps, Keystone and liaise with other relevant HEI’s using similar franchised models ie City University, Staffordshire University, DMU, MMU etc  

What Success Would Look Like

• Provide financial savings to the University through VAT on internal hires and fees for external staff 
• Support skills development, contribute to fiscal support and continuation of our students & their graduate outcomes 
• Support student recruitment by being integral to the Keele offer as well as our graduates  
• Improve the student experience, by giving our students access to opportunities that support them through their journey at Keele and beyond 
• Increase talent pipelines with partners, strengthening these partnerships and encouraging regional job creation 
• Potential to increase local community engagement as we expand the provision 
• Bring system efficiencies & support compliance (especially international student workers)