Widening Access Officer

University of the West of England; Bristol; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading higher education institution in Bristol is seeking a Widening Access Officer to support student recruitment through designing and delivering impactful activities. This role involves visiting schools, managing activities, and creating strong relationships in educational settings. Applicants should have excellent interpersonal skills and be willing to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends. Full-time with fixed-term contract until August 2026, offering a dynamic work environment on campus with some work-from-home opportunities.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Career average pension schemes

Opportunities for training and personal development

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering engaging activities to young people.
• Ability to manage an activity schedule effectively.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with schools.

Responsibilities

• Support recruitment through targeted widening access activities.
• Visit schools and colleges to deliver engaging activities.
• Manage enquiries and shape provision to meet demand.

Skills

Develop and deliver engaging activities

Proactive administration skills

Excellent relationship-building

Team working and interpersonal skills

Job description

Getting the right applicants enrolled on the right course is key to all activities undertaken by the department and crucial in a competitive marketplace.

As a Widening Access Officer you will support the recruitment of students to the University through the design, coordination and delivery of a portfolio of targeted and progressive widening access activities, designed to equip potential students with knowledge of higher education and potential pathways and to support their progression, self‑awareness and self‑belief.

We are looking for someone who can deliver activities as well as coordinate them. You will be expected to visit schools and colleges to deliver engaging activities, proactively plan a calendar of activities with schools and colleges, manage enquiries and shape provision to meet demand, undertake and allocate administrative tasks.

About you

You’re someone who:

• Can develop and deliver engaging activities to young people, via online platforms and in face‑to‑face contexts
• Can proactively administrate for an activity schedule that would achieve the team’s goals
• Can build excellent relationships in schools and colleges
• Has excellent team working and interpersonal skills

You will also be available to work flexibly out of hours (evenings and weekends) to support events and activities within the team, e.g. open days, taster days, student conferences, campus visits, recruitment fairs, Confirmation and Clearing etc.

Please see the attached job description for more information about this role.

Where is this role based?

This post is based at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed.

Why UWE Bristol?

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 38,000 students and 4,000 staff from right across the globe. Based in vibrant Bristol, our ambitions are to make a positive difference to our planet, transforming futures through actions and solving real‑world challenges.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits including progressive pay rates, very generous annual leave and career average pension schemes as well as retail savings, onsite nursery and opportunities for training and personal development.

Add your individuality to ours

UWE Bristol recognises the power of a truly diverse university community. We are proud to be part of a dynamic, multicultural city that celebrates diversity, we’re always looking for talented people from all backgrounds to join us. Our people are our strength, and diversity enhances our creativity and leads to better decision‑making and problem‑solving. Bring your talent and ambition to our stimulating and supportive community where we’ll help you thrive.

We particularly encourage applications from global majority candidates as we are currently under‑represented in this area, however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.

As a Disability Confident employer we welcome applications from those who identify as having a disability.

Further information

If you would like to speak to us to find out more about this role please contact Sarah Gettings on 0117 32 85520 or email [e-mail].

Interviews are scheduled to take place on our Frenchay campus, on a date that is still to be confirmed.

This is a full‑time, fixed term post until August 2026 working 37 hours per week.

This post is available on a job share basis for applicants wishing to work part time.

UWE Bristol is a campus‑based University and it is vital to our success and the delivery of an outstanding experience for our students that our campuses are dynamic and vibrant places to learn and spend time. This role is therefore campus based for some of your week with the opportunity to work from home on the remaining days.

To ensure fairness and equity all salary offers will be made in line with the University’s salary assessment guidelines and will be based on your relevant skills and experience.

This post requires enhanced DBS clearance.

The University’s normal practice is that new appointments will be made at the starting point of the grade.

The University has a legal responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to work in the UK. You will therefore be required to provide evidence of this right, please refer to the Home Office Right to Work Checklist for information on which documents are acceptable.

Advice to applicants

We’d love to hear from you - if you are excited about this opportunity please complete our application form as soon as possible.

Tell us how your skills and experience relate to the requirements of this role by describing how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the Job Description, and include specific examples wherever possible.

Once we have completed shortlisting we will let you know the outcome of your application by email, so please check your inbox for updates.