Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days plus bank holidays after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time working).
Our benefits
"I've had several opportunities to grow my knowledge base and evolve. The opportunities for learning have been incredible."
Louise, Housing Standards Specialist
Together we are Needs-led
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We recognise how important it is to ensure our employees feel valued.
We are a caring council. We are dedicated in supporting your health and wellbeing while you are working for us. We have a variety of fantastic benefits that ensure you can achieve a healthy work-life balance.
Whether it’s career opportunities, mentoring or working in a way that suits your life, we have something to help.
Annual leave
Additional leave purchase scheme
You’ll also have the option to buy extra annual leave, subject to certain conditions.
Pension scheme
The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is a tax approved, defined benefit occupational pension scheme. Your contributions are based on your earnings and you can choose from different income options when you retire.
Life assurance
You’ll have life cover from the moment you join the Local Government Pension Scheme, offering a lump sum equal to 3 years’ of your annual salary.
Travel and Parking
Free Parking
Westmorland and Furness council has agreed a 12-month trial of a new parking scheme that will allow free workplace car parking for employees in all Westmorland and Furness Council owned car parks between Monday to Friday. The trial will run until 31st May 2025.
Reducing our environmental impact
Westmorland and Furness Council has committed to ensure that it is carbon net zero as soon as possible and that the area it serves is carbon net zero by 2037.
We want our staff to travel in smarter, safer and more sustainable ways when travelling on council business. Council staff and members are asked to consider the best transport methods available prior to making a journey. We have a range of options such as pool cars, car sharing and public transport options.
Cycle to Work Scheme
The Cycle to Work scheme, managed by Cyclescheme for Westmorland and Furness employees, offers an exciting way to get fit, enjoy a sustainable active travel option, and save money. Here's how it works: choose a bike and safety equipment from a specific local supplier. Westmorland and Furness Council purchases the bike and equipment on your behalf, and you enter into a hire agreement, repaying the cost over 12 tax and NI-free monthly instalments.
Salary Sacrifice AVC's
Interested in an early retirement, or retiring with more money?
Westmorland and Furness Council are giving staff access to an new employee benefit that can offer just that!
Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared Cost AVCs) facilitated by My Money Matters/ AVC Wise are a cost-efficient way to help build your retirement fund if you're a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
My Money Matters
The My Money Matters platform provides a range of educational content, products and services to support and enhance your financial health and wellbeing. This may include access to a Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution (Shared Cost AVC) scheme, AVC investment advice, Snoop, free webinars and one to one coaching sessions delivered by our financial education coaches and other resources e.g. retirement projection calculator.
Payroll Giving
Westmorland and Furness Council has an agreement with the Charities Trust so that you can choose to support any charity of your choice directly from your monthly pay. Because the donation is taken from your gross pay, every pound you give will only cost you 80p, 60p, or 50p if you are a higher rate tax payer. The Charities Trust take a standard 25p per donation to cover administrative costs.
Free Will Writing Service
The Taylor Lucas Partnership are Estate Planning & Will specialists, they provide a free Will Writing service for all staff members of Westmorland & Furness Council, and their spouse/partner too.
They pride themselves on providing outstanding customer service and adhere to the Institute of Professional Will Writers (IPW) code of practice through their professional affiliation.
For more information see our Pay & Benefits Booklet
Family friendly
We have a range of family friendly and flexible working schemes and arrangements to support you to achieve a work/life balance including:
- Maternity pay and leave
- Adoption leave
- Paternity leave/Paternity leave for adoption
- Maternity support leave
- Parental leave
- Special leave arrangements (e.g. bereavement)
- Flexible retirement
- Career break scheme
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Supporting flexible working
If you're hoping for a bit of flexibility in your work arrangements, we're here to help.
At Westmorland and Furness Council, we are proud to be able to offer a variety of flexible working opportunities across our organisation. Depending on your role, this means you can adjust your start and finish times to suit your needs.
Working Families, with the support of the Government’s Flexible Working Taskforce, have developed Happy To Talk Flexible Working to support employers on their journey to designing more flexible roles.
We're all about finding a balance that works for everyone!
Wellbeing
The wellbeing of our employees is essential to us. In everything we do we strive to be a caring council. This applies as much to our employees as it does to providing services to the public.
We are committed to creating an environment where all employees of Westmorland and Furness Council can thrive. We will continue to work with staff and Trade Union colleagues to keep improving our positive working environment.
We provide several resources and services to support our employees.
Counselling
The Occupational Health Service operates an employee self-referral scheme for counselling.
Mental health
Employees will have support from several trained health advocates, first aiders and mental health first aiders. We have partnered with Able Futures who deliver the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service by qualified health care professionals.
Free eye tests
Employees who use Display Screen Equipment (DSE) more than one hour a day are entitled to receive a free eye test every two years. We will provide vouchers to help support costs of corrective appliances (e.g. glasses) for computer use, if they are required following your eye test.
Free flu jabs
We offer all staff a complimentary flu jab to help keep you healthy throughout the year.
Gym Membership
Employees of W&F qualify for corporate rates at Better centres.