Have you ever thought about using your recruitment skills and experience in a social business which makes a difference? Would you like to work in a flexible role with a team that puts people before profit?
If the answer is yes, then we could have the perfect opportunity for you. Established more than 20 years ago by the University of Warwick, Unitemps is a recruitment service which helps thousands of people every year to find work. Through our national network, we provide exciting opportunities with leading organisations.
Unlike other recruitment businesses, we are entirely university-owned and operate out of 18 universities throughout the UK. All of our revenue is reinvested into the host university and its facilities. Unitemps is about people, not profit, prioritising client experience over sales targets. Our consultants do not work on commission and are instead driven purely by providing excellent customer service.
We value our people. As a university-owned organisation, the team at Unitemps is passionate about learning and development. We take great pride in offering training opportunities and creating a flexible working environment for our staff.
Our skilled workforce supports a variety of sectors within higher education and beyond. Clients partner with Unitemps to reach a diverse talent pool through a respected and ethical brand.
Our experienced and supportive team is committed to providing tailored recruitment solutions and meaningful employment opportunities. If you share our enthusiasm for providing excellent customer service and achieving a balanced lifestyle, then we would like to hear from you.
There are currently no vacancies. Please check back soon!
We are always looking for exceptional talent. If you are interested in a career in recruitment with Unitemps, please email your CV to Lorna Bytheway.
We are an equal opportunities employer
We are proud of the strengths and values our diversity represents. We strive to achieve fair and equal representation for all, allowing everyone in our community to contribute and reach their full potential. We provide a welcoming and inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting all individuals' differences.
As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome and encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religious belief, or sexual or romantic orientation.
Benefits
Competitive salary
Inclusive of annual increments
Annual leave
Great quota and bonus days
Pension scheme
Generous employer contributions
Health and wellbeing
Resources for physical and mental health
Work–life balance
Family-friendly initiatives
Career development
Personal and professional growth
Flexible working
Policies to support your lifestyle
Staff discounts
Exclusive benefits for employees
Volunteer with us
Rewarding ways to give back
Contact us
Finding the right people is critical to our success. Our managers bring a wealth of recruitment experience and are committed to sharing their knowledge and helping our team members to grow and succeed in their roles. If you have a question about our career opportunities, culture or flexible working policy, please contact our management team today.
Lorna Bytheway
Director
T: 07823 362124
Jonathan Fogarty
Recruitment Manager
T: 07384 231507
Fiona Moore
Internal Recruitment Team Leader
Where to find us
While many of our roles offer flexible and home-based working, our team also has the opportunity to work from the following Unitemps offices.
The Beehive
University of Warwick Westwood Way Coventry CV4 8JE
Our competitive salaries are offered on a graded structure, which provides all employees with a pay increase every year. For more information on our salary scales and annual increment dates, please visit the University of Warwick’s website.
Annual leave
Great quota and bonus days
At Unitemps, your allowance includes 26 days of paid annual leave for grades 1A-5 and 30 days of paid annual leave for grades 6-9.
In addition to this, all employees receive eight days of paid leave for the UK bank holidays and a further four days of paid leave for our Christmas break.
Depending on your working hours and needs, there is also an opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days of annual leave each year.
Pension scheme
Generous employer contributions
As a member of professional services staff, you will have access to a sought-after pension scheme, which includes a generous employer contribution of up to 10% for grades 1A-4 and up to 21% for grades 5-9.
We currently have two schemes available, depending on your grade:
At Unitemps, we take your health and wellbeing seriously. You will have access to a wide range of resources to keep your health and wellbeing in check, from discounted flu jabs, dental plans and private healthcare, through to a complimentary employee assistance programme and free eye tests.
Warwick Sport, our award-winning sports and wellness hub, also offers discounted memberships for court hire, swimming, gym sessions, exercise classes and climbing.
Work–life balance
Family-friendly initiatives
Our initiatives will help you to balance work commitments with family responsibilities. From our employee-exclusive onsite nursery and campus-based holiday schemes, through to family activity days, flexible working arrangements and our generous staff leave policies.
Career development
Personal and professional growth
We know how important personal and professional growth can be, which is why we have created a host of resources to support your learning and development. Our coaching and mentoring schemes, online training courses and career planning resources have been curated with you in mind.
We also offer annual reviews to discuss your goals, successes and training needs, as well as providing formal leadership and management development programmes for prospective supervisors and managers.
Flexible working
Policies to support your lifestyle
The University of Warwick offers a flexible working policy to help employees maintain a healthy work-life balance. Our guidelines cover a variety of arrangements, such as homeworking and flexible hours. Please refer to the job description or contact us to find out more.
Staff discounts
Exclusive benefits for employees
Enjoy two-for-one theatre tickets on selected shows at Warwick Arts Centre and discounted rates at Warwick Sport, as well as the option to add one friend or family member at the same price!
As one of our employees, you will also be eligible for a Costco membership and TOTUM card, which offers 300+ discounts in a variety of areas, such as retail, transport, dining out and many more.
Volunteer with us
Rewarding ways to give back
We provide our staff with an opportunity to get involved in all aspects of university life, from volunteering at open days and graduation ceremonies, through to joining staff networking groups and supporting Coventry’s City of Culture initiatives.
We are also registered with the Charities Aid Foundation’s ‘give as you earn’ scheme, which enables you to make tax-free donations to a cause of your choosing.
Kavita Parmar-Rathour
Recruitment Executive
What prompted you to join Unitemps and why was it the right decision for you?
I had been working for a global recruitment company for around 18 months, and, while I loved my role, I was keen to further my career. The company had fixed working hours and didn’t allow homeworking or flexible working, which limited my options. I made the decision to move to a smaller organisation which offered flexible working, a higher rate of commission and many more benefits, which I thought was fantastic. However, after accepting the role, I quickly realised that this was a mistake, as the role was quite different to what I had anticipated.
Before starting out at the global recruitment company I spoke to a manager at Unitemps about the possibility of working there. However, I decided to accept the global recruitment position as it was the right opportunity for me at the time.
I went on to leave the smaller organisation and contacted two global recruitment companies to discuss working there instead. At the same time, my sister was trying to persuade me to join a university as the level of support and scope for progression was far greater. With this in mind, I called the team at Unitemps to find out more about working there. The team were happy to help and pointed me in the direction of the Recruitment Manager at Millennium Point, Jonathan Fogarty.
What attracted you to Unitemps?
If I’m 100% honest, I thought working for a public sector organisation wouldn’t be for me. Having spent more than seven years in the private sector I thought that universities wouldn’t have the commercial outlook that I enjoyed so much. However, when I met with the leadership team it was a complete game-changer.
The team is commercially minded; they talked to me about the plans for Unitemps Birmingham and discussed what I could bring to the table if I worked with them, which I found so refreshing! As much as I enjoyed chasing the commercial targets and working in a competitive environment, I also wanted to make a difference. At Unitemps, the revenue I generate benefits the University, our students and the community.
Please tell me about any career highlights or standout opportunities you have had since starting with Unitemps.
Since joining, I have progressed from a temporary role into a permanent position. Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, I have also secured Unitemps’ place on three major preferred supplier lists. I am a firm believer that if I didn’t work for Unitemps Birmingham, I wouldn’t have won the contracts. Clients and candidates truly appreciate that I am working for them, rather than lining my own pockets with commission payments.
What do you enjoy most about working at Unitemps?
I enjoy knowing that the surplus I am generating is benefiting the University, our students and the community. I also value being part of the team at Unitemps Birmingham; it has been a difficult 18 months for everyone, but I think working for Jonathan and Lorna has given me the freedom to be the best commercial recruiter that I can be.
In your opinion, how is Unitemps different to a high street recruitment agency?
Unitemps prioritises people, not profits. While high street recruitment agencies have a high footfall stand in the market place, it’s the level of service that sets Unitemps apart. Providing an exceptional service is important across all sectors; it’s a principle that I value as a service provider and a customer. Working for a company which shares the same ethos means a lot to me – it creates the right environment for developing my career and growing the permanent recruitment division at Unitemps Birmingham.
What you would say to anyone thinking about applying for a role at Unitemps?
Before starting at Unitemps, my perception of universities was that they weren’t commercial. However, working at Unitemps has made me realise that universities are commercial, just in a different way. Joining Unitemps is an opportunity not to be missed! Our team is growing and we have played a vital role during the pandemic, while many other recruitment companies haven’t survived the downturn.
You will be valued as a team member, and with hard work and determination you will reach your goals. The opportunities are endless, but only if you try! You will be supported by a range of management teams within Unitemps and I do think I have the best manager – Jonathan Fogarty!
Roberto Ciuffini
External Team Leader
What prompted you to join Unitemps and why was it the right decision for you?
I was attracted to Unitemps because of its ethical approach. I joined Unitemps over five years ago, and working for Unitemps makes you feel like you are making a difference to our candidates. Unitemps is not commission-focused, so we really do have the candidates’ and clients’ best interests at heart.
Another thing I love about the job is meeting all the different clients and candidates and being able to hear their enthusiasm about their careers and companies. Unitemps supports you in building those long-term relationships with clients and candidates.
The team work brilliantly together across the offices, and now remotely, we support each other to fill positions and help to provide support for the rest of the company. Everyone works so hard to make the system work.
What attracted you to Unitemps?
I appreciated the pillars of ethics, community and quality that Unitemps has at its core. It is not all about money; it's instead about providing the best possible service to enhance our reputation, and putting the candidates first to help find them the right opportunities.
Please tell me about any career highlights or standout opportunities you have had since starting with Unitemps.
Whilst working with Unitemps I have had the pleasure of working with various companies and national organisations, but the standout was working on the 2019 Cricket World Cup where we provided staff on a national basis for the retail stores. It was a massive project and being the lead gave me great exposure to working on a large national scale with a prestigious client. We have also been providing staff in the same way for the Rugby League World Cup, which shows the importance of building relationships.
What do you enjoy most about working at Unitemps?
The benefits at the University are great. I really appreciate the healthy work–life balance. I have the freedom to work with any client, fill any job, and create a good reputation for myself in the market.
In your opinion, how is Unitemps different to a high street recruitment agency?
Unitemps provides clients with a service set out to benefit others. We don’t simply make money for our own wealth – we put it all back into the University to fund various projects for students. Unitemps is ethically a great company to work for and it resonates with a lot of our clients and candidates.
What you would say to anyone thinking about applying for a role at Unitemps?
Don’t think that the corporate world is the only way to success. The public sector is fantastic – the benefits are unparalleled and the work you do makes a real difference. We are a commercial entity under the public sector umbrella, so you get the best of both worlds.
Now is an ideal time to join – we are growing in size and establishing ourselves further within the market, don't miss out!
Andrea Skelly
Business Development Manager
I had worked in recruitment for over 15 years for a couple of the largest recruitment companies in the world. I specialised in Finance and Accounting and had a large patch that covered the whole of the Midlands, down to Luton and across to East Anglia. Working long hours, stressed to the max, but loving every minute of it.
I had an epiphany. Although the rewards were great, my life had been taken over and I wanted it back. I just didn’t know what else I could do, an ex-nurse with sales experience. I loved the actual recruitment process, meeting candidates and clients, solving their problem, I just didn’t want the added pressure that mainstream recruitment brings.
The role at Unitemps became available and I saw what a unique opportunity it was. Being able to do the parts of recruitment that I loved, knowing that I was adding value, not just making money. I loved the fact that Unitemps are not for profit, that they gift surplus money back to the university for research and development.
I have been here nine years now; I love that fact that I have been allowed to play to my strengths and develop a role that is nothing like the role I applied for.
I am the Business Development Manager with a remit of developing National Accounts, that can benefit the other franchise offices as well as Warwick. I have also been given the opportunity to trial a care division, again using my previous skills and knowledge.
To anyone looking to make that change, it does feel scary, but the benefits far outweigh this. The holidays, pension and training are fantastic. We have an inclusive workforce and the people you work with are very supportive.
