How to apply

Find out about the steps involved in applying to be part of the team.

Applicant requirements – Right to work in the UK

Important information about changes to UK immigration from 1 January 2021

The UK is introducing a Points-Based immigration System (PBS) from 1 January 2021. These changes will affect how EU and non-EU nationals are treated and aims to attract skilled people who can contribute to the UK economy. Irish nationals will continue to be able to enter and live in the UK.

The following guidance is in accordance with current UK Visas and Immigration guidelines.

UK and Republic of Ireland nationals

If you are offered a job with us, you will need to provide proof of your legal right to work in the UK. This is usually your passport.

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals living in the UK by 31 December 2020

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss national living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you have the right to continue living and working in the UK until 30 June 2021.

If you plan to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021, you must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to obtain settled or pre-settled status.

Up to 30 June 2021, Kew will continue to accept EU/EEA/Swiss passports and National Identity Cards as evidence of right to work in the UK.

Beyond 30 June 2021, additional evidence of right to work will be required i.e. proof of settled or pre-settled status.

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals arriving in the UK from 1 January 2021 and Nationals of any other country.

If you are offered a job with us, you will need to obtain the right to work through another route, for example a work visa.

Under some circumstances it may be possible for Kew to offer sponsorship for a visa; however in many cases, for example for positions where the salary or skill level is lower than the UKVI threshold, we will not be able to sponsor and you will need to obtain the right to work through an alternative route.

For more information, including eligibility, fees and other associated costs, see the UK government guidance.

How to apply: step by step

Choose your role

A list of opportunities can be found within our Careers portal.

See our current vacancies

To apply, click on the job title of the role to view the advert, and click on the ‘Apply for this job’ button at the bottom of the page.

Register or Login

  • If you are a new applicant, you’ll need to register for an account. 
  • If you have previously applied for a job with us, you will need to log in to your account to complete your application. If you have forgotten your password, you can easily reset it by clicking on the forgotten password option; make sure to check your junk mail if you think the link has not arrived.

Fill in your application

You can save your application as you go; you do not have to complete all the sections at once. To revisit your application, you will need to log in to the candidate portal.

You will need to complete all sections of the application form to submit an application.

Please note, to ensure a fair and anonymous application process, we don’t accept CVs or applications by email. All applications must be made online via our portal. You will be able to attach your CV at the end of the application form if you wish.

Relevant skills and abilities

This is the most important section of your application as this where we will look for evidence of the skills we need.

You'll be asked to outline your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the points in the person specification of the job profile, which is published with each advert.

You should focus on providing evidence and specific examples which demonstrate your suitability for the role. For each point, you should provide an overview of your skills and experience, and then go on to provide direct examples to clearly show how you meet each point.

We value transferrable skills and encourage applicants who do not have direct experience to provide examples from other areas that meet the requirements.

What happens next

When you have submitted your application you will receive an automated email confirmation.

After the vacancy has closed, applications will be shortlisted by the hiring managers (with personal details anonymised). Shortlisting is based on your responses to the criteria on the person specification and how well you meet the requirements of the job.

If your application has been successful the hiring manager will contact you to invite you attend an interview. You may be asked to log in to the portal to choose your preferred interview time. All candidates will be emailed with the outcome of their application once shortlisting has taken place.

Pre-employment checks

If you are offered a role with Kew, we’ll send you an offer letter electronically and information on the next steps.

All offers are conditional based on receipt of satisfactory references and, where applicable, additional pre-employment checks. 

Depending on the position you are offered, the checks may include a Basic Disclosure (Disclosure Scotland) or an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).  Having a previous conviction will not necessarily prevent you from working with us. In accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974), we consider each situation on an individual basis.

Additionally, in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, all staff are required to provide documentation to prove their legal rght to work in the UK.

Get in touch

If you need information in an alternative format or have any questions, contact jobs@kew.org.

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