Staff benefits

Staff benefits

Financial

• Competitive salary package
• Performance related pay/bonuses
• Visa reimbursement scheme (this is a taxable benefit).
• Life assurance
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Interest free bicycle loans
• Financial support and advice services
• Enhanced sick pay entitlement
• Staff shuttle bus from Sutton station to the ICR and Royal Marsden Hospital site in Belmont
• Inter-site coach between Chelsea and Sutton

Annual leave

The annual leave entitlement is 28 days upon entry, rising to 29 days after 2 complete years of service, then to 30 days after 5 complete years of service. In addition, employees have an entitlement to 8 bank holidays and 3 privilege days each year.

All annual leave, bank holiday and privilege day entitlements are based on a 35 hour working week and the entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis for part-time employees.

Pensions at the ICR

The Institute of Cancer Research offers staff membership to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The USS is a defined benefit scheme and provides a highly competitive pension scheme with robust benefits. The rate of contributions is determined by USS and details of the costs and benefits of this scheme can be found on their website. If staff are transferring from the NHS, they can opt to remain members of the NHS Pension Scheme.

Family friendly

The ICR offers a range of benefits to staff with caring and parental responsibilities. These include:

• A flexible working framework to facilitate the balance between work and caring responsibilities.
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption pay
• Compassionate and special leave

A Childcare Voucher Scheme enabling current employees to continue receiving vouchers in exchange for a portion of their salary without having to pay tax or national insurance contributions on the money that is sacrificed.

The ICR Parents’ Group is a forum for discussing the issues that affect parents at the ICR and for sharing experiences and ideas. The group hold monthly coffee meet ups where they discuss issues raised by staff or welcome invited speakers. This group supports the maternity mentoring scheme and works with the ICR to develop family-friendly working practices.

As a member of the Athena SWAN charter, promoting women’s careers in science, the ICR is committed to developing practices that promote work-life balance whilst maintaining excellence in research.

Staff welfare

All staff have access to an occupational health department

Network of well-being advisers is in place to support employees informally

The ICR also provides access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) . The programme provides 24 hours life management advice on a range of topics including finance, legal and information services, as well as a confidential counselling service

Range of activities and training is available to support employee's well-being such as an Active Bystander Training, Stress Awareness Training for line managers. Recent activities included creative sessions and bi-weekly lunchtime walk on the Sutton site

Sports and social facilities

At Sutton there is a gym free to all staff; a sports and social club which has a bar, squash court and large sports hall in which a wide variety of activities are held. Membership of the club is free to all staff (there is a small charge for some activities). Staff restaurants on both sites offer hot and cold foods, snacks and beverages.

A variety of sport classes is offered at a discount.

Personal development

• Sponsorship towards professional qualifications
• Support towards membership of professional bodies
• Excellent training and career development support

Awards and accreditations

• Investor in People (since 2008)
• HR Excellence in Research
• Athena SWAN Silver Award (promoting gender equality in science)
• Queen's Anniversary Prize (2017)
• Stonewall Diversity Champions