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Our culture is based on our shared values which we seek to embody throughout the organisation. Our new chart encompasses key values and behaviours, with guidance on what's expected of our staff and how staff can go above and beyond.
Ambitious icon graphic depicting two people

We embrace new ways of working to enable both individual and team success. We contribute to a positive and productive learning culture and have the confidence to challenge ideas and long-standing practices.

We seek out opportunities to enhance our own learning and professional development to achieve our goals, and encourage others to do the same.

Expected

  • Promote honest and open communication, invest time inindividuals, and support them to succeed.
  • Engage in decision making concerning policy, resources, compliance, and relationship management.
  • Try new ways of working and embrace change.
  • Respect and support others’ ambitions.
  • Develop and maintain knowledge of the Higher Education sector as applicable to our role.
  • Line managers ensure our teams have time to prioritise professional development opportunities.

Exemplary

  • Engage meaningfully with the PDR process, working on exceeding objectives and seeking further opportunities.
  • Align goals with institutional priorities; championing continuous improvement, providing space for reflection on working practices, and enhancing our learning culture.
  • Aim to be a role model through participating in mentoring and work shadowing.
  • Build relationships with other professional services teams across the University to remove barriers to collaboration.
  • Broaden knowledge of the Higher Education sector beyond the scope of our role.
  • Line managers engage meaning fully in the PDR process, investing time and resources to ensure staff are supported to succeed.
Open icon graphic depicting two people

We prioritise the dignity and wellbeing of our colleagues and strive to communicate and work transparently in a supportive manner that builds trust.

We understand that all views and experiences should be respected and valued, whilst ensuring that our practices create inclusive environments for our diverse community of staff and students.

Expected

  • Treat all staff equitably, listening to others’ contributions and removing barriers to participation.
  • Ensure opportunities are inclusive of those with a range of perspectives, backgrounds, and different working styles.
  • Communicate the reasoning and importance behind every task.
  • Provide constructive feedback to contribute to improved ways of working.
  • Be approachable and non-judgemental so people have the confidence to raise, discuss and resolve matters – enabling opportunities for regular two-way communication.

Exemplary

  • Proactively engage colleagues in decision making processes.
  • Actively work together across grades and areas to challenge inequity and respect the needs of colleagues.
  • Contribute to creating an open, supportive, environment where all staff and students feel comfortable in having constructive conversations.

 

 Collaborative icon graphic depicting two people

We believe in the power of working together and building relationships across the University and encouraging these opportunities. We encourage working with internal and external teams, to help provide a flexible approach to new ideas.

We aim to have meaningful conversations that produce positive change, and efficient working. We believe that collaboration builds resilience within teams and want to look for opportunities to incorporate Equity, Diversity, and Belonging values in our interactions.

Expected

  • Listen to all view points and help one another to create a supportive environment.
  • Use opportunities to network and share experiences in order to develop professional ties and enhance knowledge base.
  • Communicate openly and honestly to provide opportunities for feedback and development.
  • Share best practice with others so that continued professional development can be enhanced.
  • Celebrate success and create a learning environment where we can learn from past decisions.

Exemplary

  • Create a supportive environment where we encourage others to look for opportunities to develop good working relationships, helping us to be more effective in our role.
  • Take the lead in networking both internally and externally to learn new skills and share insights with others.
  • Motivate others to collaborate and share their ideas and knowledge with one another.
Innovative icon graphic depicting two people

We have the confidence to challenge norms and take appropriate risks when seeking continuous improvement. We proactively identify issues and work creatively and collaboratively to provide solutions. We respond positively to change, embracing and proposing new ideas and ways of working.

We seek opportunities to share our successes and learnings, and to hear and learn from others, taking a diverse range of viewpoints back to our work. We contribute to the accomplishments of those around us and are creative in our approaches to networking.

Expected

  • Contribute to creating an open, collaborative, and positive working environment, conducive to innovation.
  • Seek out different opportunities forworking, sharing, networking, and learning from others.
  • Respond positively to changes across the University.
  • Demonstrate confidence in identifying and defining problems and offering resolutions.
  • Be creative in the use of resources, including flexibility in the use of technology.
  • Highlight areas for improvement, reflect on mistakes, and celebrate successes, to facilitate development.
  • Think creatively about professional development, exploring opportunities to enable teams to flourish, whilst understanding workload pressures.

Exemplary

  • Incorporate feedback and propose creative solutions; seeking new ways of working, pursuing new challenges, and sharing outcomes throughout the University.
  • Listen to others to strengthen practice and find solutions.
  • Embrace opportunities to work across different teams and disciplines.
  • Embed time for reflection within roles and tasks, individually and throughout teams.
  • Proactively resolve problems and empower those in your team to engage with other teams or resources.
  • Celebrate success and appreciate colleagues.
Responsible icon graphic depicting two people

We are accountable for our actions, responsible for communicating our own needs, and support the needs of others to ensure that a healthy work-life balance is prioritised. We are inclusive and appreciate a diversity of identities and needs, conscious of our actions and how they affect others. We take ownership of issues that arise, using successes as opportunities to develop.

We understand our role and responsibilities and how they relate to others in our teams, across the College, University, Birmingham, and beyond.

Expected

  • Act with transparency and trust.
  • Be respectful and kind to others; treat people fairly, being discrete and sensitive as needed.
  • Champion diversity, allowing space to learn about others and consider individual needs and identities.
  • Take ownership of workload; follow issues through to resolution, escalate where appropriate, or ask for support.
  • Provide constructive and timely feedback, regardless of seniority or role, and be responsive to feedback received.
  • Understand and make use of provided resources to complete work on time and to a high standard.
  • Be aware that we are representing the team, College, and University in our work and interactions.
  • Line managers champion diverse recruitment practices.

Exemplary

  • Advance and champion our area, College, and University.
  • Be an example of good practice for responsible working.
  • Share expertise, time and resources with others as needed.
  • Lead sustainability and Equity, Diversity, and Belonging efforts in our area and College.
  • Look for opportunities to work together with other teams and Colleges to achieve shared institutional goals.
  • Work as peers with academic colleagues, supporting a collaborative team dynamic.
  • Empower others to create boundaries around their workloads.
View the Values and Behaviours Chart