Assistant Shop Manager
Candidate Information Pack
July 2015
Contents
Introduction from the Chief Executive
The organisation
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Background information
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Organisational structure
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Our vision and purpose
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Our values
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Our Strategy to 2020
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Our activities
Further Information
Our finances at a glance
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2013-14 income and expenditure at a glance
Working for Arthritis Research UK
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How to apply for this opportunity
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Our leadership competency framework
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Introduction from the Chief Executive
Arthritis Research UK is the charity dedicated to stopping the devastating impact that arthritis has
on 10 million people’s lives in the UK. Our remit covers all conditions which affect the joints, bones
and muscles including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain and osteoporosis. We fund
research into the cause, treatment and cure of arthritis, provide information on how to maintain
healthy joints and bones and to live well with arthritis. We also champion the cause, influence
policy change and work in partnership with others to achieve our aims.
The charity has been through a process of transformational change over the last few years in order
to become the organisation that 1 in 6 people in this country living with arthritis need us to be. We
have reached a seminal point in this change journey and what we need to do now is ensure that we
focus our considerable resources on the issues that really matter and that will make the most
positive difference to the lives of people living with arthritis in all of its forms.
Our strategy for 2015-2020 is to improve the quality of life for people with arthritis so that they can
say “I am in control, I am independent and I am recognised”.
Liam O’Toole
CEO
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The organisation
Background information
Arthritis Research UK is a charity registered in England and Wales and in Scotland.
We are governed by a Board of Trustees who are responsible for setting the charity’s strategic
direction. Our Board is led by the Chairman, Charles Maisey and is composed of a mix of both
scientific experts and lay members each bringing a unique set of skills and experiences. Tom
Hayhoe chairs our Finance Committee.
The Board of Trustees meets four times a year and our Trustees also participate in other events
throughout the year and serve on various committees involved in specific areas of the charity’s
activities.
The charity currently employs around 200 people who are supported by hundreds of talented and
committed volunteers and fundraising supporters across our network of shops and fundraising
regions. We have offices in London and Chesterfield, our registered head office.
Arthritis is a huge problem, affecting around 10 million people across the UK. It is not a condition
solely of the elderly but affects children and adults of all ages. Some forms of arthritis can and do
kill.
 More than 1 in 6 people of all ages struggle with the pain and disability of arthritis every day.
 Arthritis is the biggest cause of pain and disability in the UK.
 Musculoskeletal conditions account for one in five GP consultations, rising to a third of all in
the over 50's.
Arthritis Research UK is committed to raising the profile of arthritis and to making a real difference
to people's lives. Our remit covers all conditions which affect the joints, bones and muscles
including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain and osteoporosis.
Ever since the charity was established in 1936, Arthritis Research UK has been striving to do
something about the scourge of arthritis. We are the only charity in the UK funding transformative
research into all forms of arthritis, and the biggest charitable funder of arthritis research in Europe.
Everything that we do is informed by the knowledge acquired through our work with academics,
health care professionals, partner organisations and people with arthritis. We are committed to
taking the pain away and to keeping people active and able to continue to do the things that they
love. We depend on public support and the generosity of our donors to keep doing this vital work.
The Senior Leadership Team are driving an ambitious programme of organisational change towards
a future where Arthritis Research UK punches above its weight, where the importance of
musculoskeletal health is recognised along with the devastating impact of arthritis on people’s lives
and where government gives it the priority it deserves.
We want a future where 10 million people no longer suffer in silence. We will listen to and
understand what matters most to people with arthritis and focus our activities on those things that
will achieve a tangible, positive change in their lives. We will demonstrate to government and policy
makers how much of the population is needlessly suffering, how many working days are lost, how
much personal distress is being caused. We will stimulate more support for people with arthritis and
work tirelessly to significantly increase the investment in research into prevention, treatment and
cure.
To mobilise others, we recognise that we ourselves need to be focused, efficient and effective and
that is why we must continuously look closely at not only what we do but how we do it. At the heart
of all of our decisions is one simple question “How can we maximise the impact of everything
we do to benefit people with arthritis?”
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Organisational structure
Our vision and purpose
The organisational vision of Arthritis Research UK is a future free from arthritis1.
As an organisation we exist to prevent the onset of arthritis, develop a cure for arthritis and
transform the lives of those with arthritis (now and in the future) by building, applying and sharing
knowledge.
Our values
Our values underpin the behaviours and approaches that we expect from everyone who works for
us and we believe that these are reflected in the everyday actions of our people at all levels across
the organisation. Our three values were developed by our employees in 2012 and are:
Bold and unafraid (courage)
We step out with belief, positivity and confidence. We are innovative, creative and resourceful. We
are open to taking risks, embracing new ideas and challenging ourselves.
Heart and Soul (commitment)
We work hard and give it everything. People affected by arthritis are at the centre of everything we
do and we won’t stop searching for ways to improve their lives. We are driven, focussed, and
committed to making a difference.
Team spirit and collaboration
We achieve more together. We are one big team, learning together, looking after each other, and
building relationships with trust and honesty. Everyone has a part to play.
Our Strategy to 2020
Our focus to 2020 is to improve the quality of life of people with arthritis, so they can say “I am in
control, I am independent and I am recognised”
In Control – people with arthritis are equipped and able to manage their condition and the impact it
has on their day to day lives. They are in control of their treatments, management of their pain and
other symptoms and can confidently navigate the health and social care systems.
Independent – people with arthritis are able to live well and to do the things that make their life
fulfilling and meaningful with the required support to do so.
Recognised – people with arthritis do not feel that they are excluded from society but have a voice
and are being heard. They feel understood and visible rather than brushed aside and expected to
cope alone.
Through delivery of our strategy we will achieve a tangible, positive change in the lives of people
with arthritis by 2020.
Three guiding principles will underpin successful delivery of our strategic focus:
1. Evidence – we will look at the evidence of need through the ongoing engagement of people
with arthritis.
2. Our role – as an organisation, we will be clear about our role in meeting the evidenced need,
which may be by:
- doing/addressing the need ourselves
- working with others in partnership to address the need
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as an organisation, we use the term arthritis to mean all musculoskeletal conditions that affect the
joints, bones and muscles.
- influencing others to address the need.
3. Resource – we will resource everything we do properly to ensure success.
Our activities
As an organisation we create and use knowledge to change the lives of people with arthritis, from
funding research, to educating health care professionals and providing information to people with
arthritis and their carers.
We currently fund around 300 research grants covering all types of arthritis and ranging from basic
laboratory-based science through to large, multi-centre clinical trials.
One of our biggest success stories of the past 20 years has been the development of anti-TNF
therapy, which has revolutionised the treatment of inflammatory arthritis worldwide.
Our current portfolio includes exciting work into stem cell therapies for osteoarthritis, improving joint
replacement surgery and pioneering the next generation of treatments.
Everything we do is underpinned by research, and everything we fund is aimed at improving the
lives of people with arthritis.
More information about our research portfolio can be found on the Arthritis Research UK website at:
http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/research/what-we-are-funding.aspx
The Director of Finance and Corporate Services will play an instrumental role in ensuring that the
charity’s infrastructure and use of resources effectively support the development of our charitable
activities and services to support the strategy to 2020 and to improve the quality of life of people
with arthritis.
Further Information
A range of other information about the charity and the services we currently provide is also available
on our website: http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/
Our annual report and financial statements provide a summary of our work over the years and can
be found on our website here: http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/about-us/annual-report-andaccounts.aspx
See a summary of our 2013-14 Income and Expenditure in the next section.
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Our finances at a glance
2013-14 income and expenditure at a glance
Historically, the charity has benefited from good levels of legacy and royalty income. We have
invested significantly in building up our fundraising portfolio and our fundraising strategy to 2016 is
focused on driving an increase in our net income across a much broader portfolio of income
streams.
The Director of Finance and Corporate Services will work closely with all directorates in planning
and stewarding Arthritis Research UK’s income and expenditure in line with the implementation of
the new strategy to 2020 and will be responsible for leading on a range of cross-organisational
projects.
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Working for Arthritis Research UK
How to apply for this opportunity
Thank you for your interest in working for Arthritis Research UK. You’ll be joining an ambitious and
dynamic organisation and helping really make a difference to peoples’ lives.
To apply for a job with us, you must complete the Retail Application form in full. Failure to complete
the application form does mean your application will not be considered.
Once you have completed your application please email it to
retailrecruitment@arthritisresearchuk.org
Our benefits
Without the commitment, courage and collaboration of our staff, Arthritis Research UK won't
achieve our aspirational vision of taking away the pain for the 10 million people in the UK affected
by arthritis.
We offer a range of diverse benefits designed to motivate, recognise and reward our employees.
Not all benefits have a monetary value but all of them are designed to help make Arthritis Research
UK a great place to work.
Our full time hours are 35 per week and our range of employee benefits, include:
 22 days annual leave plus an additional 3 ‘given days’ normally between Boxing Day and
New Years’ Day
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A generous contributory Group Personal Pension Plan
Life Assurance of 3 times annual salary
Free Medical Trust Membership
Salary Sacrifice Child Care Voucher Scheme
Cycle to Work Scheme
Employee Assistance Programme
Support for eye tests for those who work with VDU equipment
Season ticket loans
A Awards (annual opportunity to be part of peer nominations about colleagues who
demonstrate our values in action)
 Recognition of long service
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