For employees who are new to Cambridge, there are a range of services and benefits including a Relocation Policy, the Accommodation Service and a Newcomer and Visiting Scholars Society.
Right to Work in the UK
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all its employees have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Therefore, if an applicant receives an offer of employment, this will be subject to the University verifying that they are eligible to work in the UK before they start work.
If you successfully apply for a position then, prior to an agreed start date, all new employees will receive a welcome letter outlining the arrangements for their first day along with a copy of their induction schedule.
New employees should seek clarification from the Human Resources Division if they have not received a welcome letter.
Relocation Assistance
The University provides financial assistance with relocation costs for moves within the UK and from overseas. The scheme is open to all newly appointed centrally funded staff on appointments of two years or more. The scheme does not include staff transferring to a new post within the University, nor does it include those who have been promoted. New employees should seek clarification from the Human Resources Division to check whether they are eligible for the scheme.
Reimbursement is available for moves within the UK provided your previous residence is not within reasonable daily travelling distance, and as a consequence of the move you are changing your main residence rath er than acquiring a second home. However, reimbursements must be claimed within HM Revenue and Customs time limits, see UK Taxation Implications paragraph.
Further details on the relocation expenses scheme are available here.
The Accommodation Service
The Accommodation Service exists to help all members of Cambridge University, from students and academics to staff and visiting scholars, to find suitable accommodation across the city. It can advise on rents, letting arrangements and tenancy agreements, as well as information on schools, banking, medical practices and other local facilities.
The University owns accommodation which is available for University members and staff of affiliated institutions to rent. Eddington (North West Cambridge Development) is a brand new district located 2km northwest of the city centre of Cambridge. The area has a supermarket, nursery, primary school, the award-winning Storey’s Field Centre for community and arts events, a playground, sports pitches, and Brook Leys parkland. Residents have access to regular subsidised buses to West Cambridge, the city centre, railway station and Addenbrooke’s; in addition to hundreds of secure bike parking spaces and communal garden areas. Find out more by visiting eddington-cambridge.co.uk.
Eddington residents are more than four times more likely to be “very satisfied” with their accommodation when compared to the general Cambridge rental market. See what some of Eddington’s residents had to say about their new homes:
“I like the spacious layout generally in my apartment. Ceiling to floor windows make it so light and airy – it looks so modern and fresh. The design of the apartment makes it very warm in winter and quite cool in the summer – very well designed.”
“It’s a nice new place with green areas. All you need is really close (supermarket, schools, parks, etc.) There’s a bus right outside my door.”
“I could not afford to live in Cambridge if not for this development.”
Additional support is offered to those new to Cambridge via the Newcomers and Visiting Scholars Group. It helps newly arrived wives, husbands, partners and families of Visiting Scholars and Senior Members of the University to settle in Cambridge and gives them an opportunity to meet local people.
Travel Advisor Service
After working from home for the past year or more, you might be unsure about what your travel options are as the University starts to think about opening up its doors again to staff. The Travel Advisors can help you find out what's changed since you last travelled to work, including how to keep active by walking and cycling as part of your commute.
This new service has been introduced by the University to help staff explore the alternative travel options that might be available to them, perhaps looking for a commute that is healthier, greener, faster or cheaper than previous arrangements. The service would be particularly useful if you're a relatively recent or new starter who has yet to venture into the workplace.
To arrange a conversation with a Travel Advisor, using MS Teams:
- Email UniofCamTravelAdvisor@steergroup.com
- You'll be asked to complete a brief 'pre-conversation' form to provide a bit of information about yourself and your travel to work, and be asked to suggest some days/times of day when you're available for a session
- You'll be matched with a Travel Advisor and they will send you an invite for a Teams call
- You'll have a conversation with your Travel Advisor via Teams. They'll use the call to understand more about you and your travel to work, and together you'll explore your travel options
- Following the call your Travel Advisor will pull together some personalised information to help support you in trying out the options identified
- They will follow up with you on a couple of occasions to see how you are getting on or if you need any further support, and to find out what you thought of the service