Your Benefit Choices brochure from the University of Birmingham by UoBStaffBenefits

Benefit Choices

Your Benefit Choices

Benefit Choices

Contents

Welcome to your Benefit Choices from the University of Birmingham

Why does the University offer Benefit Choices?

When can I make changes to my benefits package?

What benefits are on offer? Pension Holidays (and buying additional leave) Childcare Vouchers Cycle purchase scheme Cost effective and fuel efficient car salary sacrifice scheme Medical and dental health insurance Health Cash Plan Sports Centre staff and family membership discount Payroll Giving or Give as you Earn (GAYE) Membership of Costco wholesale Bus and rail season tickets Discounts and offers Laptops, PCs, tablets and accessories offers Mobile phone offers Staff Extras University Business Travel Insurance Other discounts and deals Making the most of your time at University of Birmingham Training and Development Staff Networks Staff clubs and societies Flexible working/unpaid leave Give As You Live

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Benefit Choices

Welcome to your Benefit Choices from the University of Birmingham This brochure details the benefits available to all employees, the simple ways of signing up for a package to suit your individual needs and how the scheme works. The potential savings you could make are set out clearly to ensure you make the best of your choices. For more information, please read on. The current benefit choices are: n Pension n Holidays (and buying additional holidays) n Childcare vouchers n Cycle purchase scheme n Medical and dental health insurance n Health cash plan n Sports Centre staff and family membership discount n Payroll giving n Costco membership n Bus and rail season tickets

Why should I use Benefit Choices? The University of Birmingham Benefit Choices Scheme offers numerous advantages. Apart from being able to choose the benefits that matter the most to you, you can also: n Where available, take advantage of the National Insurance and tax savings, using the salary sacrifice scheme n Spread the cost of some benefits over 12 months, or longer n Benefit from the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buying power to gain access to a competitive rate

Discounts and Offers

Who is eligible for Benefit Choices? The Benefit Choices are available to all University employees. The amount of your salary you can spend on some available benefits is limited to 50% of your salary and cannot reduce your salary below the National Minimum Wage or Lower Earnings Limit.

n Laptops, PCs, tablets and accessories offers n Mobile phone offers n Staff Extras (discounts and savings) n University business travel insurance n Other discounts and deals

Making the most of your time at the University of Birmingham n Training and development n Staff networks n Staff clubs and societies n Flexible working n Give As You Live Why is Benefit Choices useful and how does it work? Many of these benefits are fixed for a year, though there are some exceptions to this. There are also various savings that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to sign up for (computers, mobile phones, Costco), but simply need proof of your employment with the University to receive fantastic offers. How to access each benefit is set out under whichever benefit you might be interested in. All queries can be directed to the Payroll Office, 43088 or email paymanager@lists. bham.ac.uk, though many common queries will be answered in this brochure.

Please note that casual workers are not eligible for Benefit Choices.

Benefit Choices

Why does the University offer Benefit Choices? We offer the scheme for a number of reasons including: n Aiding reward and in that way, recruitment and retention n Supporting and promoting diversity n Supporting a positive work-life balance n Supporting health and well-being n Supporting professional learning and development n Providing cost savings to the University through relief from employer National Insurance (on some benefits) n Promoting sustainable travel and helping us reduce our carbon footprint How do I get savings from the benefits? Benefit Choices offer savings in three different ways: n Salary sacrifice – Tax and NI savings n Salary sacrifice – NI savings but benefit is taxable n Voluntary benefits – No tax or NI savings but offers and discounts available

‘The aim of Benefit Choices is to provide you with the opportunity to tailor your benefits package to make the most of the savings and offers available.’ Heather Paver, Director of HR Salary sacrifice means that you give (sacrifice) part of your (pre-tax) salary each month in return for a benefit (eg, childcare vouchers or payments for a bike). Your tax and NI is then calculated based on your remaining salary which means you pay less tax and/or NI and save money. All the tax and NI that is liable is handled by Payroll.

When can I make changes to my benefits package? Benefits fall under 3 categories Benefits you can start or stop using at any time of the year

Benefits you can join at any time of the year and do so for up to 12 months at a time **

Benefits you can only join at specific times of the year and do so for 12 months at a time **

n Staff Networks

n Childcare vouchers

n Private Medical Insurance

n Health cash plan

n Cycle purchase scheme

n Dental Health Insurance

n Payroll giving

n Costco membership

n Buying additional holiday (6

n Staff clubs and societies

n Bus and rail season tickets

n Staff Extras

n Home, car and travel

n Training and development

insurance offers n Mobile phone offers n Staff sports membership n Give as You Live

** These benefits can only be changed (and only certain changes may be possible) if you experience a qualifying life event. Examples of life events are: n Marriage/civil partnership n Divorce/legal separation/loss of partner n Birth/adoption of a child n Significant change in contract of employment

months ahead also possible) n Pension n Holidays and buying

additional leave

The salary sacrifice is achieved by you agreeing a change to your terms and conditions of employment relating to your salary. How do I know how much I may save? See relevant section in this leaflet for more information on the value of the offer or discount or the tax and/or NI saving you might make on the salary sacrifice for childcare vouchers, cycle purchase or sports centre membership.

Benefit Choices

What benefits are on offer?

The Benefit Choices scheme offers a wide range of benefits to suit varying needs. All details on each particular benefit, how it works and what you need to do to apply can be found throughout this brochure. Pension

Holidays (and buying additional leave)

Provider: The University provides all employees with an appropriate workplace pension, with a salary sacrifice pension contribution.

Provider: University of Birmingham

What is the benefit? The advantage of salary sacrifice is that you save national insurance on your contribution to the pension. Can I opt out? You have the right, if you wish to do so, to opt-out of your workplace pension scheme. Similarly, each April you can choose to opt-out of salary sacrifice pension contribution. For further information: For information on workplace pensions, please visit intranet. birmingham.ac.uk/finance/pensions/index.aspx, contact Karen Roebuck on 46489 or email pensionqueries@lists.bham.ac.uk

What is the benefit? The University provides generous leave arrangements, with full time staff entitled to 25 days annual leave plus seven University closed days in addition to eight statutory holidays. Holiday for academic staff is not specified but should be broadly comparable. Additional leave is an extension of annual leave and should be used for the same purposes as standard annual leave, such as a holiday. The Scheme does not replace or restrict the use of any existing unpaid leave practices, or the discretion of line managers to grant unpaid leave in exceptional circumstances on an occasional basis. The Buying Additional Leave Scheme has been introduced to support staff members’ work-life balance and to enable the University to make cost savings. How does it work? The buying additional leave scheme is open to all support, administrative and other academic-related staff whose terms and

conditions of employment specify a 25-day annual leave entitlement (or equivalent in hours or a pro-rata equivalent), and who have completed six months’ continuous service at the time of making their request. Staff can request up to 10 days of additional leave per annual leave year; for full-time staff, each day’s leave costs 1/260th of their annual salary. The cost can be paid in one go or spread over six months’ salary instalments. How do I join? Requests should be made as early as possible; there are deadlines of the beginning of and half-way through the leave year for requests for additional leave in the following six months. For further information Please visit www.intranet.bham.ac.uk/finance/ pensions.co.uk And intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/leave/annual/ additional.aspx Buying additional leave scheme (PDF 63KB) Buying additional leave form (Word 137KB)

Childcare Vouchers Provider: care-4 What is the benefit? The care-4 scheme allows you to save on the cost of childcare for children under 16. How does it work? care-4 is a salary sacrifice scheme, whereby you set aside (‘sacrifice’) part of your gross (pre-tax) salary each month to pay for childcare. What is the benefit? It’s up to you how much of your monthly salary you set aside for childcare vouchers, up to your maximum value; choose carefully as this will be fixed for 12 months The money you choose to set aside is paid by the University into your personal, secure, care-4 account. You pay your carer from this account and can authorise payments online or over the phone, on either an ad hoc or scheduled basis. You can select your own child carer, as long as they are a registered or approved carer. Spouses

or partners, blood relatives and au pairs are not eligible to be paid through the scheme. What are the tax and NI implications? As this is a salary sacrifice scheme, you can save tax and NI on this benefit. How much can I save? From 6th April 2011, the amount of tax you can save will be limited to the equivalent of basic rate (20%), even if you pay tax at a higher rate. As a result everyone gets the same level of tax exemption (around £11 per week) but the maximum value of tax-exempt vouchers you can receive varies depending on your tax bracket. Payroll will carry out an annual assessment every April to determine which level of exempt income you will be able to receive during that tax year. For more information see section 3 of the scheme rules (PDF – 39KB) intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/documents/ public/benefits/care4-rules.pdf.

If you joined the scheme on or before 5 April 2011, the new rules regarding maximum values do not apply. Find out how much you could save by using the savings calculator on www.care-4.co.uk Why should I choose this benefit? Not only can you save money on your childcare costs, as detailed above you also have the additional benefits of: n Confidential childcare helpline The helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year and provides assistance and advice on childcare arrangements and parental support on every aspect of your child’s wellbeing. The helpline also has fully qualified clinical staff on hand to offer advice on child health issues. You will also have access to a quality emergency childcare website.

Benefit Choices

What benefits are on offer? continued

Childcare Vouchers continued Help finding child minders n You will have free access to the Childcare Places website www.emergencychildcare. co.uk/care-4, a secure site which helps you find registered childminders in your local area who are members of the National Childminders Association. How do I join? To join the scheme you need to register with care-4. You can do this on-line at www.care-4.co.uk, or by phoning 0844 800 1444 from 9.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday, or 9.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays (national rate call charges apply). When you register you must have the following information to hand: The University of Birmingham Unique n Identifier – UNIB4 Your full name and address n (including postcode) Your payroll number n Full name and date of birth of your n children whose care is to be paid for through the scheme Full name and address (including postcode) n and telephone number of your carer(s) Your annual gross salary n The annual amount of your salary you n wish to set aside for childcare After you’ve joined…. Care-4 will send you a welcome pack containing: confirmation of your information n simple instructions on how to use your n care-4 account a personalised care-4 card, account n number and codes to use when authorising payments to carers a form for you to complete confirming that n you agree to sacrifice a portion of your salary to pay for childcare. You must sign and return this form to care-4 by the 8th day of the month in order to start participating in the scheme that same month. You should let your carer(s) know that you are participating in the care-4 scheme, and that care-4 will contact them. care-4 will send your carer(s) a welcome pack, which will include a personalised care-4 card and account number, enabling them to check the status of payments to their account. care-4 will also ask your carer(s) for their bank account details and confirmation that they are an approved or registered carer.

When can I make changes to the benefit? You cannot change the amount of money that you put aside to pay for childcare if your childcare costs change. You can only normally change the amount you set aside at the end of each 12-month period. There is some flexibility to change it in the event of a significant lifestyle change such as moving house, or the birth of another child. The maximum amount you can set aside through salary sacrifice is regulated and will be assessed annually by payroll. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Can you explain more about the annual assessment carried out by Payroll? The annual basic earnings assessment is necessary to ensure compliance with the changes in tax legislation. The assessment will be carried out when you first apply to join the scheme, and at the beginning of each tax year (every April). Payroll will only carry out an earnings assessment once a year, which will fix the level of exempt income (for childcare vouchers) that you are entitled to for that tax year until the following April. If your pay changes or you change your hours during the course of the year, the amount of exempt income you will be entitled to receive in relation to care-4 may change from the start of the following tax year. This could put you in a different tax band for the voucher amount, altering your voucher amount: see the table in the scheme rules (PDF – 39KB) intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/ documents/public/benefits/care4-rules.pdf. Example: if you joined the scheme after April 2011 paying tax at 40%, you were entitled to up to £124 per month in tax-exempt vouchers. If you reduce your hours such that you are paying tax at 20%, your tax-exempt voucher entitlement will change, with effect from the following tax year, to up to £243 per month.

No. Any money left at the end of your 12 months on the scheme will simply be carried forward to the following year’s scheme, so you should carefully calculate the amount of childcare provision you need. When you leave the Care-4 scheme the money remains in the employee’s Care-4 account for 18 months. If the credit is not used up after 18 months, the money is dispersed to charity. 4. What happens if the money I set aside does not cover my childcare costs? If your salary sacrifice does not cover your full childcare costs, you will need to pay your carer the outstanding balance by another payment method. 5. Can I change my nominated childcare provider(s)? Yes, you can register new child carers throughout the year. To avoid delays in making payments to new child carers, please register your new carers as far in advance as possible. 6. Will there be any effect on my state benefits? Participating in a salary sacrifice scheme, such as care-4, may impact upon your entitlement to certain state benefits. For example, if you are on Working Tax Credits, this scheme will reduce the amount you pay tax on, and so may lead to an increase in your Working Tax Credits. However, if you receive the childcare element of Working Tax Credits, this may reduce. If you are in any doubt, please contact your local tax office on 0845 300 3900 or visit taxcredits. hmrc.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx 7. My child is at the Elms Day Nursery and I am already getting a benefit through the Working Tax Credit Scheme: should I switch to care-4 instead? The HMRC has a guide to help you check whether you would be better off sticking with Working Tax Credits or switching to the care-4 scheme: n HMRC Childcare indicator www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/ccin.htm For further information

2. Can I leave the scheme at any time? No. You join the scheme for a fixed period of 12 months and you may only cancel at the end of a 12-month period. It may be possible to cancel membership during the 12-month period in the event of a significant lifestyle change such as moving house, or the birth of another child. (see question 7) 3. Will I get a refund if I do not use all the money I set aside for childcare for the year?

Take a look at the scheme rules (PDF – 50KB) n intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/documents/ public/benefits/care4-rules.pdf Visit the care-4 website www.care-4.co.uk n Call care-4 on 0844 800 1444 n Email: info@care-4.co.uk n For particular information about your tax band and your circumstances, please contact Caroline Williamson in Payroll on 43088 or email paymanager@lists.bham.ac.uk

Benefit Choices

Cycle purchase scheme Provider: Cyclescheme. There are various participants where you can purchase a bike from. Go to the Cyclescheme website and click ‘Where can I get a bike?’ to find participating independent bike shops. What is the benefit? You can save on the cost of a bike and safety equipment, thanks to a partnership between the University and Cyclescheme. How does it work? Cyclescheme is a salary sacrifice cycle purchase scheme whereby you set aside (‘sacrifice’) part of your gross (pre-tax) salary each month. What is the benefit? There is no minimum spend. However, Cyclescheme supports local independent bike shops, and the cheapest bikes tend to cost around £200. This may seem quite expensive, but once you take into account the salary sacrifice saving of around 30%, you are left with 12 monthly payments of £11.77; there is then a small payment (to reflect the final market value of the bike at the end of the hire period) to buy the bike at the end of the scheme. This scheme only covers bike packages up to £1000. If you want a package costing over £1000, you should discuss this with the bike shop.

£40,040.00) will save marginally less than the figure quoted by Cyclescheme. This is because you already pay a slightly reduced rate of NI, at 10.4% rather than 12%, as these schemes are contracted out of the state second pension. The likely rate of saving is therefore 20% in tax and 10.4% in NI, ie, 30.4% of the value of the bike. It should be noted that this will be a difference of no more than £16 from the quote given by the Cyclescheme calculator.

What are the tax and NI implications? As this is a salary sacrifice scheme, you can save tax and NI on this benefit. The total value of the bike is deducted from your gross salary so that you do not pay tax or national insurance on the amount you have ‘sacrificed’. Therefore the total deductions shown on your payslip will match the total value of the voucher, but you are paying less tax and NI than you would normally do.

Why should I choose this benefit? As well as great savings on the cost of a bicycle and/or bike equipment, savings will also be made by avoiding the expense of public transport. You will also be making a valuable contribution in the University’s mission to dramatically reduce its carbon emissions, not to mention the health benefits of cycling to and from work!

How much can I save? The Cyclescheme savings calculator (www.cyclescheme.co.uk/ calculator) can give you an approximate guide. Click on ‘advanced details’ and enter the University’s employer code, 35222; please note the University cannot claim back VAT. The Cyclescheme calculator may be inaccurate if your earnings lie between the bottom of the 40% tax bracket and around £50,000. If you are concerned about how much you will save for this reason, please contact a member of Finance. Staff in the BPAS, USS, or NHS pension schemes with earnings below the upper National Insurance limit (October 2014

You also need to make a small payment (to reflect the final market value of the bike) after the initial 12-month period.

How do I join? Once you have found a participating independent bike shop you would like to use… 1. Choose your bike and accessories and get a quote for them from the shop. 2. Request a voucher myaccount.cyclescheme. co.uk/request2/267777184142/age-check 3. Cyclescheme contacts the University to authorise the quote. 4. The University pays for the bike, and Cyclescheme issues a secure voucher by post. 5. Finance will contact you to collect the voucher and sign some forms to authorise the deductions from your salary. 6. Take your voucher to the shop and collect your bike!

The whole process takes two to three weeks on average from entering your quote on the website. When can I make changes to the benefit? Generally speaking, you cannot make changes to this benefit. Within one working day of submitting your voucher request, it has been passed to Cyclescheme. If you choose to cancel your order this creates an administrative burden for both the University and Cyclescheme, so please only submit a voucher request if you are fairly certain you will not change your mind. The University appreciates however that you may need to cancel your voucher request in the event of an unexpected change in your circumstances. When you receive the voucher, you sign an agreement which, by law, gives you seven days to change your mind. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Am I eligible? To participate in the scheme you must… n have an employment contract with the University lasting beyond the period of the loan be a UK taxpayer n use the bike purchased for at least part of n 50% of the trips you make to work. You may also use the bike for leisure purposes. Scheme guidelines state that you should also: be over 18 n be earning more than the National Minimum n Wage after the loan repayment has been deducted

Benefit Choices

What benefits are on offer? continued

Cycle purchase scheme continued 2. I’m a student/postgraduate, can I take part in the scheme? Unfortunately this sort of scheme is only available to tax payers. This is because the savings are a result of salary sacrifice, which means that the total value of the bike is deducted from your gross salary before tax or NI are paid, and tax and NI are only paid on the rest of your salary. If you do not pay tax, you cannot take part in a salary sacrifice scheme.

from the employer. The exact amount cannot be stated until the end of the scheme due to HMRC regulations.

3. Evans/Halfords run their own schemes – can I buy a bike through one of these? Evans ‘Ride2Work’ and Halfords ‘Cycle2Work’ schemes are separate to the scheme run by the University, and as an employee of the University you cannot buy a bike using these schemes. When we set up the scheme, we consulted with staff as to which scheme to go with; we chose the Cyclescheme as it offered a wide choice of local independent shops which have a high level of after-sales service.

If you leave the University within three years, the payment will be taken from your final salary instalment.

However, as of 26th September 2011, Evans is also a Cyclescheme partner, and you can now order a voucher for a bike from Evans via Cyclescheme. It is still not possible to buy a bike from Halfords through the University’s salary sacrifice scheme. 4. Why do I need to pay an additional sum after the initial 12-month period? The way that cycle-to-work schemes operate, as set down by HM Revenue and Customs, is that the employer buys the bike and then leases it to the employee. Therefore at the end of the hire period a small payment must be made in order for the employee to buy the bike

Cost effective and fuel efficient cars for University employees The University offers members of staff the opportunity to lease a car through a salary exchange scheme. The scheme has hundreds of vehicles to choose from, all under an emissions cap of 120 grams of CO2 that the University is setting as part of its carbon reduction strategy. Please visit intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/collaboration/ environment/travel/sustainable-travel/ Fuel-Efficient-Vehicle-Lease-Scheme-.aspx for more information.

Following a new ruling from the HMRC, in order for the University to continue to charge a relatively low final market value, for vouchers purchased after 1 April 2011 this payment will be taken from your salary three years after the final salary deduction.

5. Why are the deductions shown on my payslip equal to the full cost of the bike? The way salary sacrifice works is that the total value of the bike is deducted from your gross salary so that you do not pay tax or national insurance on the amount you have ‘sacrificed’. Therefore the total deductions shown on your payslip will match the total value of the bicycle, but you are paying less tax and NI than you would normally do. 6. I’ve already participated in the scheme once, but I want a new bike. Can I do it again? There’s no reason why you can’t go through the scheme more than once, provided you still fulfil the criteria and have reached the end of your previous hire period. However, the online form does not allow the same email address to be entered again, so you will need to input an alternative email address. The email address given will be used to notify you that your voucher has arrived in Finance, but will not be used for any other purpose.

Important Notes n Please make sure your bike is insured, as if it is stolen during the hire period you will still have to make the remaining payments Once you join this scheme, it is not possible n to cancel If you leave the University before the end n of the agreed hire period all remaining payments will be taken from your final net salary Equipment only packages A recent clarification on Cycle to Work scheme guidance has confirmed that participants can now obtain safety equipment without the need to include a bike in their request. Safety equipment only Certificate requests will work in exactly the same way as any other Cyclescheme Certificate request. The limit will remain at £1,000 (with a £100 minimum), the hire period will be 12-months and the End of Hire process will work in exactly the same way. Unfortunately however, you cannot make a safety equipment only request if you are currently making salary sacrifice payments towards a bike. To submit an equipment only request, follow the Equipment only process guide. www.cyclescheme.co.uk/equipment-only For further information Please visit intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ collaboration/cycling/buying/salary-sacrifice.aspx

Benefit Choices

Medical and dental health Insurance Provider: AXA PPP healthcare and National dental Plan What is the benefit? Private medical Insurance All employees at the University are eligible to join the Universities and Colleges Personal Healthcare Scheme underwritten by AXA PPP healthcare. The scheme has the following benefits: Four different levels of cover n Discounted premiums n Open to all employees, their partners and n dependents (up to 25 years old if in full time education) No medical examination required n Health at Hand – a confidential health n information service to all subscribers, including Care and Stress Counselling service Continued cover in retirement n Dental insurance You can join the National Dental Plan dental insurance scheme and benefit from a choice of three levels of cover: Clear 1, 2 or 3. You can also take out cover for your partner and children. Irrespective of the level of cover you decide to apply for, the following benefits apply: n Exceptional service and prompt reimbursement n A choice of plans to suit you – including cover for dependants n Immediate cover – claim for any necessary treatment from day one n Choice of any dentist – NHS or private n Pre-existing conditions covered (except mouth cancer) n No health checks required prior to joining n Overseas cover n Cover for treatment required following an accident/injury (including sports)

How does it work? Private medical insurance If you are a new member of staff, you can join on a medical history disregarded basis (Premier and Key plans only) within your first six weeks, providing you can confirm that neither you, nor anyone else on the policy, have any ongoing claims or treatment, and have no treatment planned or booked within three months of the start date of the policy. This scheme is provided through Jardine Lloyd Thompson Benefit Solutions. Dental insurance If you are an existing employee, the scheme is open once a year for a window of a couple of weeks in January for you to join. How do I join? Private medical insurance For more information, or to apply: n AXA PPP leaflet (PDF – 314KB) intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/documents/ public/benefits/axa-ppp-leaflet.pdf n AXA PPP brochure (PDF – 2.6MB) intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/documents/ public/benefits/axa-ppp-brochure.pdf n Call AXA PPP healthcare on 0800 0321 950. Dental You can join the scheme within 6 weeks of starting at the University – all the information should be in your starter pack. If you are an existing employee, the scheme is open once a year for a window of a couple of weeks in January for you to join. The window for joining the scheme will be notified on the HR staff benefits pages with an application form for you to

return to Caroline Williamson, Payroll (ext 43088) by a deadline, normally around mid-January. When can I make changes to the benefit? Dental If you are an existing member of the dental scheme, 1st January is the date you may request to leave the scheme by contacting Caroline Williamson, Payroll (ext. 43088). Private medical Members usually sign up for a 12 month period, then they can make amendments. Life events count too, such as adding children. You may sign up for a shorter period and pay a pro-rata amount. For further information Private medical insurance n AXA PPP leaflet (PDF – 314KB) intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/documents/ public/benefits/axa-ppp-leaflet.pdf n AXA PPP brochure (PDF – 2.6MB) intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/documents/ public/benefits/axa-ppp-brochure.pdf n Call AXA PPP healthcare on 0800 0321 950. Dental: n Clear 1, 2 and 3 dental plan leaflet (PDF

– 975KB) intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/ documents/public/benefits/dental-leaflet. pdf – includes scheme benefits n Dental application form (Word – 36KB) intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/documents/ public/benefits/dental-application-form.doc – includes prices Further information is available from National Dental Plan: Tel: 020 7480 7201 or go to www.nationaldental.co.uk

Health Cash Plan Provider: BHSF Health Cash Plan

n Up to £255 towards replacing your glasses

All plans include: n Personal accident cover

What is the benefit and how does it work? University of Birmingham operates a Health Scheme from BHSF Health Cash Plan and as an employee you are eligible to join.

or contact lenses n £70 for each night you spend in hospital n £120 for day-case surgery n Up to £600 towards therapies (including homeopathy consultation)

A health cash plan is not the same as private medical insurance. Policyholders can claim cash towards a wide range of everyday health costs. Cover starts from £1.35 per week and benefits include*: n Up to £210 towards your dental bills

n 24-hour helpline for stress and other

counselling, medical information and legal advice n All diagnostic tests and scans covered under diagnostic consultation

Plus many more benefits *Based on level 4 Family cover, £8.95/week. Family Schemes cover you, your partner and any children under 18 years old.

What is the benefit? This benefit works as a net pay deduction, there is no minimum or maximum spend. What are the tax and NI implications? There are no tax or NI implications with this benefit.

Benefit Choices

What benefits are on offer? continued

Sports Centre staff and family membership discount Provider: University of Birmingham Sport What is the benefit? Fantastic value memberships are available for University of Birmingham staff and their families, starting from £11.63 per month for an adult and £42 a year for a child (9–15 years, including access to the pool). Children aged 0–8 years go free. How does it work and what is the offer? Staff are now able to opt into salary sacrifice with regards to sports centre membership. What is the benefit? There is no minimum or maximum spend, you only pay for what you use. What are the Tax and NI implications? As this is a salary sacrifice scheme, savings can be made on tax and NI. How do I join? Please visit the Munrow reception desk or call +44 121 4144177 or email munrow@bham.ac.uk to sign up When can I make changes to the benefit? As a salary sacrifice scheme, this is a 12 month commitment from the start date and you can opt out after 12 months. There is no fixed start date.

Take a look at the savings that can be made by opting in... Membership packages

Gross monthly payroll deduction

Salary sacrifice*

Saving per year with salary sacrifice

Gym, swim & squash

£26.25

£18.00

£99.00

Gym & squash

£22.67

£15.60

£84.84

Gym & swim

£23.58

£16.20

£88.56

Gym (anytime)

£20.00

£13.70

£75.60

Gym (off peak)

£15.00

£9.91

£61.08

Squash

£11.84

£8.20

£43.68

Swim

£12.75

£8.20

£54.60

* These prices may be lower depending on existing salary sacrifice commitments ... which could work out at up to a 30% saving compared to paying via the payroll system. When completed, please return your salary sacrifice membership form to the Munrow Sports Centre. For further information University of Birmingham Sport also offers the following fantastic benefits to staff: n Free Gym Inductions. There are a full range of services available, including Personal Training Weight & Muscle Analysis, Fitness Review and Personal Exercise Programme. n Free Advisory and Healthy Heart & Cholesterol Check. Please contact thrive@ contacts.bham.ac.uk for further information n JustPlay for students and staff – no need to be a member. If you feel like a game of badminton, squash, tennis, table tennis, basketball, 5-a-side football, plus many more. Go to www.sport.bham.ac.uk/page.as px?sitesectionid=193&sitesectiontitle=Just +Play for further information n Coniston Adventure Weekends – The University of Birmingham has its own outdoor pursuits centre in the Lake District. Located on the western shore of Coniston Water, The Raymond Priestley Centre is an ideal location for outdoor activities. It is 100 metres from the shore and you can walk from the centre into the hills. Coniston Adventure Weekends are open to students and staff of the University. Centre staff offer

expert tuition and depending on the time of year and weather conditions activities include mountain biking, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, rock climbing, mountain walking, gorge walking, high and low ropes courses. Go to www.sport.bham.ac. uk/page.aspx?sitesectionid=137&sitesectio ntitle=Outdoor+pursuits+weekends for further information. For general information, please go to www.sport.bham.ac.uk/default.aspx, call +44 (0)121 414 4117, or visit the Munrow Sports Centre reception on campus. Or please see the following: n Staff membership form 2013–14

(PDF – 134KB) www.sport.bham.ac.uk/shared/ get-file.ashx?id=119&itemtype=document n Staff’s family membership form 2013–14 (PDF – 136KB) www.sport.bham.ac.uk/shared/get-file. ashx?id=120&itemtype=document n Staff sport information leaflet (PDF – 417KB) www.sport.bham.ac.uk/shared/get-file. ashx?id=1340&itemtype=document

Benefit Choices

Payroll Giving or Give as you Earn (GAYE) Provider: Bell Fundraising Bell Fundraising is a Kent-based fundraising company employed by consortiums of charities working together to help each other, ensuring that some of the smaller charities get their fair share. Bell works to raise awareness of this concept through payroll giving. What is the benefit? Payroll giving or Give as you Earn (GAYE) is a fantastic way to donate to your favourite charities. How does it work, how much can I save, and why should I choose this benefit? The donation comes from your pay each month before income tax, meaning the charity receive what you would have paid in tax as part of the gift. For example, a gift of £5 will cost a lower rate tax payer only £4 of their take-home salary and a higher rate tax payer just £3 of their take-home salary. What is the benefit? There is a minimum of a £1 per month contribution. What are the tax and NI implications? You will receive tax savings on this benefit. How do I join? The University has appointed Bell Fundraising to promote its payroll giving scheme. Bell will visit the University periodically to carry out targeted promotions. Your choice is not in any way restricted. If you have a favourite charity, you can donate to them through payroll giving. To make a donation, please use the online form at www.udon8.org Bell Fundraising also have groups of charities you can donate to if you can’t decide on one charity. When can I make changes to the benefit? You can opt out of this benefit at any time of the year, you just need to notify Bell Fundraising and payroll at paymanager@lists.bham.ac.uk Frequently Asked Questions 1. Will Bell get a percentage of my donation? No money is taken direct from donations made either to the consortia or to individual charities. The consortia employ Bell to be their public face, essentially as an out-sourced fundraising department. Salaries are paid monthly and kept entirely separate from donations. Therefore, Bell does not receive any proportion of the donation itself.

2. Which groups of charities do Bell Fundraising represent? Friends at Work A donation to Friends at work is split equally between n Action for Blind People n Childlife n Action Medical Research n Guideposts n Muscular Dystrophy Campaign n RNIB n Sign Health n Mencap n The Children’s Society n The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation n RNID Make a Difference A donation to Make a difference is split equally between n Action Medical Research n Breast Cancer Care n Thai Children’s Trust n British Lung Foundation n Ask (Action for Street Kids) n Muscular Dystrophy Campaign n Multiple Sclerosis Society n The Woodland Trust

Smile a minute A donation to Smile a minute is split equally between n Action for Children n Great Ormond Street Hospital n Mencap n People for People n Sightsavers n Multiple Sclerosis Society n Carers UK For further information Please visit: n Payroll giving: www.payrollgivingcentre.org. uk/employees.htm n Bell Fundraising: www.bellfundraising.co.uk

Benefit Choices

What benefits are on offer? continued

Membership of Costco wholesale Provider: Costco What is the benefit? Costco is a membership cash and carry warehouse club which sells a large variety of quality brand-named items at low prices, including groceries; wines, beers and spirits; electrical appliances; furniture; and tyres; as well as having in-store butchers and bakers. How does it work, how much can I save, and why should I choose this benefit? As a member of University staff you are eligible to purchase an annual membership of Costco wholesale. The annual membership fee is £25 plus VAT for the primary cardholder, which includes a second card for your spouse or partner. One additional card is available to a family member aged 18 or over and living within the same household, at a cost of £12 plus VAT. Your membership card is valid in all UK warehouses and over 500 worldwide.

How do I join? Costco visit campus twice a year for staff to sign up. For details of the next visit, please visit the HR web pages, under Staff Benefits. If you wish to join before then, just visit Costco and take your University ID card or recent payslip, as well as a current utility bill as proof of your address. Costco Birmingham is located at 100 Watson Road, Star City, Birmingham. Tel 0121 326 3500 When can I make changes to the benefit? You buy an annual membership. It is your choice whether you renew your membership when it expires. For further information Please contact Costco at marketing115@ costco.co.uk, or call 0121 326 3502.

Bus and rail season tickets Provider: West Midlands Travel (bus only) and Centro Season Tickets (rail and bus) What is the benefit? Savings on bus and rail travel using the University’s deal with the companies above How does it work? The University will purchase a season ticket on your behalf and will recover the cost of the pass by equal deductions from your pay over a 10 month period (43 weeks for weekly paid staff), although the pass itself will be valid for 12 months. Therefore, you must have a 12 month contract in order to apply. How much can I save? WMTravel and the University have negotiated a 25% reduction (funding 12.5% each) off the cost of a full price pass from April 2012. There is a 2.5% saving for Centro Season Tickets. These savings are to encourage members of staff to use the bus service instead of using a car. How do I join? West Midlands Travel: Please download the relevant form(s) and return with a passport sized photograph (new pass applications only) to Jennifer Quaid (43089) in the Finance Office. A new application form is required every year you renew your travel pass.

Application for West Midlands Travel Season Ticket For prices and details of the deadlines to submit your application and when the pass will commence, please visit intranet. birmingham.ac.uk/finance/payroll/SeasonTickets.aspx Centro Season Tickets: Please download the relevant form(s) and return with a passport sized photograph (new pass applications only) to Jennifer Quaid (43089) in the Finance Office. A new application form is required every year you renew your travel pass. For costs of Rail Cards please download one of the following documents or contact Maxine Doyle on 0121 214 7079. n Application for Centro Travel Season Ticket intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/finance/ documents/public/centrocard.pdf n Travelwise Price List intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/finance/ documents/public/Busandrailtravel.pdf n Cross Boundary Price List intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/finance/ documents/public/outofcounty.pdf For details of the deadlines to submit your application and when the pass will commence, please visit intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/finance/ payroll/Season-Tickets.aspx

Benefit Choices

Discounts and offers

Laptops, PCs, tablets and accessories offers Provider: Getech Education and The Apple Store How does it work and what is the offer? As a result of procurement agreements, University staff are eligible to access discounted sites to purchase computers and accessories. Getech Education In order to be eligible for a discount from this site, you need to register using your University email address. The site includes discounts on laptops from Toshiba and Samsung (amongst other things). Although the discounts are not

significant in many cases, these products are often of higher quality and with better added value than you will get on the high street. The Apple Store In order to access this site, you need to be using the campus network (including access via Citrix). You can also take advantage of the offers by taking your university ID card into the Apple Store. There is little advantage in the lower cost items but the discounts at the higher end can be significant.

Mobile phone offers Provider: EE stores and Orange How does it work and what is the offer? The University’s mobile phone network provider offers the various discounts to members of University staff. Pay Monthly 20% off Orange Pay Monthly or selected iPhone plans over £20.50 per month on a 24 month contract. Plus: n Unlimited free calls to your favourite Orange number with Magic Numbers n 25% discount on accessories with Orange Pay Monthly

How do I join? To sign up for any of the deals you need to go into an EE store with: n Your payslip from the last two months. n A proof of your address (like a bank statement from the last three months). n A proof of your signature (your driving license or passport). Further information Please email paymanager@lists.bham.ac.uk NB: Offers and discounts may change during the life of this brochure

Pay As You Go £20 off any Orange Pay As You Go phone costing more than £30, plus access to all Orange fantastic Pay As You Go offers. Mobile Broadband 10% off Orange Mobile Broadband on plans of 12 months or more. Family discount You can share this offer with up to five family members. The account will need to be in your name but a family member can be set up as the person who pays the bill. You’ll need to go into an EE shop together and both need to bring proof of address and signature and the staff member will need a payslip too.

University of Birmingham Terms and Conditions of Offers 1. It is the responsibility of the individual member of staff to verify that a chosen item is being offered at a discount compared to prices available elsewhere. 2. The University is not responsible for the content of external web sites. 3. Any contract or agreement for the purchase of goods or services is between the individual and the company, not with the University. 4. If a current contracted University supplier has an issue with an offer/discount, the University retains the right to withdraw the offer/discount with immediate effect.

Benefit Choices

Discounts and offers continued

Staff Extras Provider: Nextjump How does it work and what is the offer? Staff Extras is a one-stop online shop where you can get discounts or build up and redeem points on products from holidays and theatre tickets to clothes, electrical goods and even fast food from well-known brands. Staff Extras gives you quick and easy access to new and exclusive discounts and deals from hundreds of retailers on fashion, electrical goods, holidays and more. Simply select the shops you like and Staff Extras will find the deals that you want! How do I join? To start shopping visit www.bham.ac.uk/staffextras, then follow the steps below: 1. Click Register Now 2. Complete the registration form and click Next >> then click Register Now. If you do not have a University email address, tick the box; enter the code UoB2011 and your personal e-mail address on the next page and click Next >> 3. Check your details and click Submit. Your unique password will then be e-mailed to the address you used to register: use this to login to the site.

University Business Travel Insurance Further information: n If you can’t find your way around the site, try the site tutorial which is available in the help section in the top right hand side of the screen n Wherever you are in the site, you can return to your personalised homepage by clicking on the University of Birmingham logo at the top of the page n You can use the search box to search for particular retailers or types of product n Browse by category by clicking on More at the right hand side of the black toolbar n Clicking on Help Centre takes you to some FAQs and you can also contact the scheme provider through the help centre

Please note that Business Travel insurance is provided free by the University through its own insurer, and must be arranged through www.travel.bham.ac.uk. This cover is for all staff and students travelling abroad on University business, including year abroad students. Other discounts and deals These often locally sourced benefits are updated regularly to make sure you get the best offers, so please visit https://intranet. birmingham.ac.uk/hr/benefits/offers/other.aspx to see the current special offers for University of Birmingham staff. The range of fantastic offers include NUS discount cards, mortgages and banking offers, free will writing service. NUS extra cards Provider: NUS How does it work and what is the offer? Members of University staff can purchase an NUS Extra card, which offers discounts such as: n 5% off at Amazon n 10% off at Superdrug n 25% off at Domino¹s Pizza The card costs from £12 per year and part of the sale price goes back to the Guild of Students. How do I join? Visit www.nusextra.co.uk for more details and to register. You may be asked a number of course-related questions. Write something that seems appropriate, or ‘Other’ where necessary. If required, term dates are available at www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/ courses/termdates.aspx All NUS Cards will be available to collect from the Guild of Students reception, where you will need to produce your staff ID card as proof of identity.

NB: Offers and discounts may change during the life of this brochure

Benefit Choices

Making the most of your time at University of Birmingham Staff Clubs and Societies The University is also home to a number of staff societies and groups offering broad opportunities for social networking and sharing interests with colleagues including: Mermaid’s cricket club – the University staff cricket team plays 20-over ‘friendlies’ between May-August. In the close season they rent nets at Edgbaston Indoor Cricket Centre every Wednesday evening. Contact the club captain Dr John Wilkie for more information. LUCIA (Life Uplifted by Change in Africa) – is the chosen charity of Library Services with members of staff serving as Trustees. Supporters give their time voluntarily to raise money for women and children in Ethiopia. Writers Network – is a group of staff starting a lunchtime writers’ circle. They will be working on entries for the West Midlands Short story competition, generating ideas and providing feedback. For those who already have projects on the go, they hope to help encourage and support the writing process. If you are interested in joining, please email Jess Holloway Swift, or Claire Browne.

Training and Development TAG Rugby – is a non-contact, fun, team sport, suitable for all ages and abilities. The team train throughout the year on a Thursday 5.00– 6.00pm and enter the Moseley Rugby Club amateur TAG tournament which runs for six weeks in the summer. Contact the club captain Kieran McGovern for more information. Staff Grow Club – at Winterbourne Botanical Gardens is for green fingered staff who are interesting in growing vegetables but maybe do not have space at home or fancy a break from their office at lunchtime. Contact Phil Smith the Garden Supervisor for details. No Angels – staff ladies football team competes in the Women’s 6-a-side intra-mural league, organised by Sport Bham. They also organise fun mixed sessions at 5.00pm on Fridays. They are a friendly bunch and always open to new players regardless of ability or experience. Contact Jayne Green if you are interested in taking part.

Staff disability group for any member of staff who considers themselves to be disabled, or to have expertise or influence in key related areas of the University. Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff group for staff from all backgrounds and staff groups who have an interest in issues affecting BAME staff are welcome to join. LGBT Rainbow network for all staff at the University who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender and friends and allies of the LGBTQ communities.

Flexible working/ unpaid leave For details of how you can take advantage of the University of Birmingham’s flexible working hours such as part time working and job sharing, please visit the HR pages at: intranet. birmingham.ac.uk/hr/leave/flexible/index.aspx If you are interested in the University’s unpaid leave options such as career breaks or time off for training and part time study, please visit: ntranet.birmingham.ac.uk/hr/leave/unpaid.aspx Give As You Live

Further information: Please visit intranet. birmingham.ac.uk/hr/benefits/offers/StaffNetworks.aspx

Staff Networks There are a wide range of staff networks across campus including:

Provider: POD (People and Organisational Development) at the University of Birmingham Please visit POD’s website to see their fantastic online brochure for full details of all the great training opportunities available to University of Birmingham staff members: intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/development/ index.aspx

Birmingham University Bicycle User Group works with like-minded bicycle users from the City Council and other groups to improve cycle facilities. BUBUG is open to anyone at the University and especially those who cycle and who have an interest in the facilities provided on campus. Further information Please visit https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ hr/benefits/offers/Staff-Networks.aspx

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Contact information For the majority of the benefits, offers and discounts and staff clubs and societies, please use the contact details listed under each section for specific information and assistance. If what you want to know isn’t in this brochure, then please contact staffbenefits@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

Benefit Choices

Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom

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