Birmingham City University
Working at BCU
At Birmingham City University, we are a diverse and inclusive learning community of over 31,400 students from more than 120 countries. We aim to become an exemplar anchor institution, creating and sharing knowledge for a better and more inclusive society. We are committed to providing a transformational educational experience, supporting world-class research, and fostering a collaborative and supportive working environment for our staff.
We are proud to have recently been recognised as one of the UK’s Top 250 employers in the national rankings compiled by the Financial Times in partnership with Statista. This recognition reflects our commitment to creating a working environment where colleagues feel supported, valued and able to develop their careers while contributing to the success of our students and communities.
Our student demographic reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of Birmingham itself, with a significant proportion of students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds and the majority of our home students coming from the West Midlands. This diversity is a strength, and it calls for a workforce that is equipped to challenge deficit narratives and thinking — those assumptions that position students from underrepresented groups as lacking rather than recognising their assets, strengths and potential. By embracing this perspective, we aim to create an environment where all students and colleagues can thrive, and where our work contributes positively to the social, cultural and economic life of Birmingham and beyond.
We continuously review and improve our policies, practices and procedures to ensure equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded across all aspects of our work. By recruiting from a diverse community with employees and students from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, we are committed to creating a culture where everyone can contribute, develop and reach their full potential, as outlined in our university values and community agreement.
As a university, we also recognise the importance of freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law, and we strive to support an environment where open discussion, respectful debate and the exchange of ideas can take place. We believe that higher education providers play a vital role in encouraging critical thinking and diverse viewpoints, while ensuring our community engages with one another in a way that is respectful, inclusive and lawful.
We currently possess an Athena SWAN Silver Award, recognising our commitment to advancing gender equality. We have also recently been conferred a Bronze Race Equality Charter Award, demonstrating our commitment to improving representation, progression and success for all staff and students regardless of background. As an employer, we publish our gender, ethnicity, and disability pay gaps annually, detailing our progress as well as outlining our approaches to creating an environment where equal opportunity is championed and upheld.
BCU has been recognised externally for its progress, being named the best university for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Midlands and ranked eighth in the UK in the inaugural Honordex report in 2024.
We are proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer, demonstrating our wider commitment to recruiting, supporting and retaining disabled colleagues. We were also among the first universities to sign the Disabled Student Commitment and are accredited under the Workplace Wellbeing Charter. In addition, we are a signatory to the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter, reinforcing our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our entire university community.
Birmingham City University
Head Office
Birmingham, UK
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