Recruitment Information
Pack
Student Funding Assistant
(1 FTE)
Welcome from the Principal
The vision of Ayrshire College is to raise aspirations, inspire
achievement, and increase opportunities and our aim is to
create a dynamic and innovative College to serve the
communities and businesses in Ayrshire. We work in
partnership with businesses and key stakeholders to ensure we
are focused on providing opportunities which meet demand in key industry sectors in
Ayrshire and beyond.
Ayrshire College has a key role in helping to develop the economy in Ayrshire and beyond,
by ensuring that students develop the right skills and positive attitudes to support the local,
regional and national workforce needs.
The College offers a broad and balanced curriculum across Ayrshire, offering hope,
inspiration and opportunity to the communities we serve. By harnessing the strengths and
talent of staff from across all of our campuses, and with an ethos of continuous
improvement, we provide the highest quality learning experience for our students.
I am delighted that you are considering joining our successful team at this exciting stage of
our development. Following review of the vacancy information, if you feel that your
knowledge, skills and experience are suited to this role, and you are enthusiastic with drive
and ambition, we would be very pleased to receive your application.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this career opportunity with us
Heather Dunk
Principal and Chief Executive
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Introducing Ayrshire College
Aims, Mission and Objectives
The vision of Ayrshire College is to raise aspirations, inspire achievement and increase
opportunities. Raising the aspirations of our students and staff to set ambitious goals for
their learning and future careers, complemented with the right support to enable them to
achieve these, is a key aspect of our vision. The College also seeks to contribute to raising
the aspirations of the people, communities and
employers across Ayrshire, helping all to
achieve the goals important for their success.
As well as increasing opportunities for our
students and staff, we will work with partners
and employers to increase opportunities which
will benefit the wealth of the regional economy
and the wellbeing of local communities.
We have aligned the mission and vision of
Ayrshire College with the strategic priorities of
our partners, in particular to support the overarching ambitions of the three Community
Planning Partnerships in Ayrshire.
Fundamental to achieving our ambitions is a culture which supports this and our values will
underpin everything that we do.
Seven Star Ambition
In aiming to be a world-leading College, we have developed a simple approach of
delivering a seven star service. Supported by staff and students, this concept reflects our
stretching ambitions for the College:
1. To deliver excellence in learning and teaching
2. To have an excellent reputation locally, regionally and
nationally,
3. To nurture new and further develop excellent
Partnership working with employers and Community
Planning Partners,
4. To recruit and retain highly skilled staff and enable
students to flourish in excellent learning environments
5. To be the college of first choice for students
6. To be the training partner of choice for employers
7. To demonstrate excellence in financial sustainability
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Curriculum Portfolio
The curriculum portfolio is demand based
to meet the educational requirements of
learners across Ayrshire and the business
community. The curriculum currently
delivered
supports
the
Scottish
Government’s focus on the 16-19 year old
age group, and also reflects the
requirements of older students, including
adult returners and those accessing
training or education for the first time.
College Campuses
Ayr Campus
The Ayr Campus includes the Dam Park Building, Riverside Building, and the Aeronautical
Engineering Training Centre.
The Dam Park Building comprises a
range of student services as well as
multi-purpose classrooms, professional
training kitchens and engineering and
construction
workshops.
The Riverside Building hosts IT suites,
custom built studios for Creative Arts,
Fashion workshops and Hair and Beauty
salons.
The Aeronautical Engineering Training Centre includes an aircraft hangar which is home to
a “Bulldog” light aircraft, a flight deck simulator, a wind tunnel and jet engines.
The campus also provides a Nursery, which offers high quality childcare facilities to staff
and students.
Cumnock Campus
Facilities at Cumnock include multi-media suites, a hair and beauty salon, craft workshops,
multi-purpose classrooms and a range of student services. The campus also hosts the
LearnDirect Scotland Learning Centre, which offers a drop in facility for students and the
public to access training in IT using self-help material and tutor support.
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Kilmarnock Campus
Kilmarnock Campus offers a range of curriculum programmes and also incorporates the
Gallery Restaurant, The Hair Salon, Aqua Spa and Nail salons. The Campus also delivers
a range of engineering and motor vehicle programmes and has developed strong
partnership links with the engineering business community across Ayrshire.
ONE YEAR TO GO UNTIL NEW COLLEGE CAMPUS OPENS
The new campus in Kilmarnock campus has
been progressing at a steady rate since work
began in June 2014 and will be ready for
students in September 2016.
A time capsule, filled with items from college
staff and students as well as members of the
local community, will be built into the new
building to preserve this moment in time for
future generations.
The event officially started the 'one year to go'
campus countdown.
Each month for the next twelve months, new
facilities for a different subject area will be
revealed on the website, giving current and
prospective students the chance to see how their area will be enhanced by the move to
the new site.
The new campus will include sector-leading facilities for sport and science, hospitality,
technology and engineering, as well as a health and wellbeing centre, and hair and beauty
salon.
The College appointed the C3 consortium as the preferred bidder for the new Kilmarnock
campus back in November 2013. The £53 million campus is the single largest public
sector investment the town has ever seen.
Kilwinning Campus
The Kilwinning Campus offers industry standard resources which include design studios,
IT suites and hairdressing and beauty salons. The Campus also offers a nursery service,
providing child care in a safe and stimulating environment with highly qualified and
Nethermains Campus
Nethermains supports a range of construction and
motor vehicle courses and provides an industry
standard environment to support student learning
and teaching.
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The Craig Centre
Horticulture and land management courses are based at the Craig Centre, Gatehead.
Programmes delivered include tree surgery, and landscaping.
Townholm Campus (Kilmarnock)
Townholm Campus is home to our Centre of Sporting Excellence, which delivers a range
of sport and fitness programmes. The Townholm campus also comprises a Trade Skills
facility which supports Painting and Decorating, Bricklaying and Carpentry and Joinery.
Skills Centre of Excellence Irvine Campus (Irvine Royal Academy)
The Skills Centre of Excellence Irvine Campus is a new addition to Ayrshire College and
opened in October 2014. The first part of the development of the Irvine Campus will see
the delivery of Sport and Fitness and Health and Social Care courses. This campus will
continue to develop over the academic term to provide other exciting opportunities in the
future.
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Governance and Management Structure
Board of Management
The Ayrshire College Board of Management was created on 1st August 2014. The Board
provides strong and effective governance and strategic leadership for Ayrshire College.
The current members of the Board include:
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Willie Mackie, Chair of the Board of Management
Wai-yin Hatton, Vice Chair of the Board of Management, Chair - Estates and New
Campus Development Committee
Heather Dunk, Principal and Chief Executive
Barbara Graham, Chair - Learning and Teaching Committee
Nicki Beveridge, Chair - Human Resources and Organisational Wellbeing
Committee
Tom Wallace, Chair - Finance Committee
Alan Walker, Chair - Audit Committee
Gordon James, Board Member
Stephen Greenwood, Service/Support Staff Board Member
Julie Bradley, Curriculum/Teaching Staff Board Member
Angela Alexander, Student President
Marie Macklin, Board Member
Bill Costley, Board Member
Dr. Robin J Northcote, Board Member
Professor Alan McGregor, Board Member
James English, Board Member
Fiona Fawdry, Board Member
Executive Management Team
 Jane McKie, Vice Principal, Human Resources and Organisational Wellbeing
 Bernadette McGuire, Vice Principal, Learning and Teaching
 Michael Breen, Vice Principal, Finance and College Systems
 Jackie Galbraith, Vice Principal, Strategy, Planning and Performance
 Donna Vallance, Vice Principal, New Campus Development and Estates Services
Senior Management Team
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Elaine Hutton, Director of Learning and Skills (Creative)
Julie Maxwell, Director of Learning and Skills (Care, Education, Sport and Fitness)
Gavin Murray, Director of Learning and Skills (STEM)
Moira Birtwistle, Director of Learning and Skills (Hospitality, Tourism, Business and
IT)
Carol Nisbet, Director of Learning and Skills (Partnerships and Employability)
Helen Canning, Director of Student Services
David Davidson, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development
Alistair Gordon, Director of Finance and Student Funding
Dave Swan, Director of ICT and MIS
Stuart Millar, Director of Education Contracts and Business Development
Michael McHugh, Director of Quality Enhancement
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Executive and Senior Management Structure
Heather Dunk
Principal & Chief
Executive
Donna Vallance
Vice Principal
Estate and New
Campus Development
Eileen Mackin
Project Director – New
Campus Development
(Kilmarnock)
Michael Breen
Vice Principal
Finance & College
Systems
Alistair Gordon
Director Of Finance &
Student Funding
(Kilmarnock)
Dave Swan
Director of ICT & MIS
(Kilwinning)
Jane McKie
Vice Principal
Human Resources &
Organisation Wellbeing
David Davidson
Director of Human
Resources &
Organisational
Development
(Ayr)
Bernadette McGuire
Vice Principal
Learning and Teaching
Jackie Galbraith
Vice Principal Strategy,
Planning &
Performance
Elaine Hutton
Director of Learning &
Skills – Creative
(Ayr)
Stuart Millar
Director of Education.
Contracts & Business
Development
(Ayr)
Julie Maxwell
Director of Learning &
Skills – Care, Education
and Sport & Fitness
(Kilwinning)
Michael McHugh
Director of Quality
Enhancement
(Kilwinning)
Gavin Murray
Director of Learning &
Skills – STEM
(Kilmarnock)
Moira Birtwistle
Director of Learning &
Skills – Hospitality,
Tourism, Business & IT
(Ayr)
Carol Nisbet
Director of Partnerships
& Employability
(Kilwinning)
Helen Canning
Director of Student
Services
(Kilmarnock)
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FORMER STUDENT HAILS AYRSHIRE COLLEGE AS ‘BEST
PREPARATION’ FOR UNIVERSITY
A former Ayrshire College student has been awarded the University of the West
of Scotland court medal for her Sport and Exercise Science class.
Mia Burleigh, 33 from West Kilbride, studied HNC and HND level at the College before
going straight into third year at UWS in Hamilton.
The court medal is awarded to the student with the highest mark in each year group,
and Mia puts her good grades down to the education she received at Ayrshire College.
“A lot of us progressed from the College to UWS, and I felt Ayrshire College ensured we
were really well prepared,” Mia said.
COLLABORATIVE WORKING KEY TO BOOSTING YOUTH
READINESS FOR EMPLOYMENT
With the goal of improving the future employability chances of Ayrshire’s young
people, representatives from the private and public sector met for the formation of
the Developing Young Workforce Ayrshire regional group.
The Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce set out how to improve
opportunities for young people across Scotland and the pivotal role employers should play
in developing young people.
The Scottish Government accepted all recommendations in the Commission’s report and
set out a seven-year implementation plan in its youth employment strategy, Developing the
Young Workforce. Led by Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, the group is made up of
employers, employer bodies, as well as representatives from the three local authorities,
Ayrshire College, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, the Department for
Work and Pensions and the voluntary sector.
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Recruitment Advertisement
Career Opportunity
Student Funding Assistant (1FTE)
Ayr Campus
(The job holder will be required to work at our other campuses when required)
£21,316 per annum
You will support the Student Funding Team Leader and Student Funding Manager in
providing a high quality student funding service through allocating, dispensing and
accounting for student funding awarded by the College and the Scottish Government. This
will involve providing high-quality customer focused assistance for all enquiries to support
the delivery of an effective service and maintaining student funding systems and
procedures.
You will be educated to HNC level or equivalent together with relevant student funding
experience, preferably within a Further Education environment. A comprehensive
knowledge of the Microsoft office suite and experience of Student Funding systems are
also essential.
Informal enquiries to Louise Park, Student Funding Manager, 01563 523501 Ext. 5363, or
email louise.park@ayrshire.ac.uk
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Job Description
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
Post Title:
Student Funding Assistant
Responsible to (Post
Student Funding Team Leader
Title):
No of Job Holders:
1 FTE
2. PRINCIPAL JOB PURPOSE
Support the Student Funding Team Leader and Director of Finance and Student
Funding in providing a high quality student funding service through allocating,
dispensing and accounting for student funding awarded by the College and the
Scottish Government.
3. JOB DIMENSIONS & CONTROL OF RESOURCES
The post holder will have no responsibility for staff or budgetary management.
4. ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIP
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5. MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Support the development of systems, procedures and policies, in order to
underpin the efficient and effective management of the Student Funding
service.
2. Maintain robust operational processes across the service in order to ensure
that all users of the service are supported appropriately.
3. Engage effectively with service users in order to develop and support the
delivery of the service and to understand key issues. This will include
delivering group presentations, holding one-to-one meetings with students and
providing help desk support.
4. Liaising with external agencies to ensure the provision of high quality
information and support services to all stakeholders in relation to student
funding issues.
5. Ensure all funding awards and payments are processed efficiently and
effectively including BACS payments, childcare invoices, emergency and
Discretionary funds to support the student learning and teaching experience.
6. Support the Student Funding Team Leader/Student Funding Manager and
Director of Finance and Student Funding in the preparation of reports and other
papers to assist in the strategic development of Student Funding.
7. Support the maintenance of systems and databases to ensure the efficient and
effective performance of the full range of service activities.
8. Maintain effective administration procedures to underpin the efficient
performance of the service area.
9. Participate fully as a member of the team providing cross-cover and support as
required across the College campuses, to ensure a seamless service is
delivered at all times.
10. Provide high-quality customer focused assistance for all enquiries to support
the delivery of an effective service.
11. Support the implementation of all College policies, procedures and regulations
generally and with specific reference to finance, quality enhancement, health
and safety, management of risk, equality and diversity and staff performance
and sustain an inclusive and supportive environment in accordance with
College policy.
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6. COMMUNICATIONS (Internal & External)
The Student Funding Assistant will have key internal working relationships with
students and Curriculum and Service staff as well as external agencies such as SFC,
SAAS, HMRC, Student Loans Company etc.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both oral and written are required to
achieve effective working relationships with students, managers, staff, the public,
stakeholders, external agencies and existing and potential partners.
7. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
The post-holder will function with a degree of independence and autonomy, within
parameters agreed in conjunction with the Student Funding Team Leader/Student
Funding Manager, and has some discretion to prioritise and determine workload.
Work is demand driven and work activity will be delegated by the Student Funding
Team Leader/Student Funding Manager. The post-holder will have some
responsibility for prioritising work load.
Review of work will be in accordance with existing performance management
arrangements.
8. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Education:
 Educated to HNC level or equivalent qualification or relevant experience in a
related environment.
 Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
Knowledge:
Demonstrable knowledge of:
 The services of the College
 The principles of delivering high quality, effective and efficient support within a
Further Education environment.
 The curriculum mapping process and course development routes.
 Current Government policy in relation to benefit entitlements.
 Systems to support student funding or similar services.
 Comprehensive knowledge of the Microsoft office suite.
 Working knowledge of specific systems (primarily UNITE) within the Student
Funding function.
Skills and Competencies:
 Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to
communicate in a range of formats.
 The ability to plan and prioritise a range of work activities, involving personal
and confidential information, meet deadlines and work to tight timescales.
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Maintain confidentiality at all times and support the management of sensitive
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issues appropriately.
Customer focused with the ability to provide a professional service at all times.
Excellent administration skills and the ability to produce high quality work first
time.
Ability to analyse and present data and information in final format with minimal
supervision.
Ability to work flexibly across all campuses in the region.
Experience:
 Relevant student funding experience, preferably within a Further Education
environment.
 Demonstrable experience of delivering high quality work on time and to tight
timescales.
 Experience of providing support within a customer focused environment.
9. MAIN JOB CHALLENGES
Delivering high-quality student funding assistance to support the Student Funding
Team Leader/Student Funding Manager and Director of Finance and Student Funding
in delivering a high quality service.
10. WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Physical
 The post will involve office-based work, which will also involve the post-holder
travelling to other campuses.
 Keyboard skills for production of paperwork and reports.
 Operation of a wide range of office machinery/equipment including:
- Personal computer for production of relevant documentation and use of
email
- Photocopier
Mental
 Concentration required to update records, prepare documents and quality
check final output.
 Frequent and constant interruptions, on issues relating to the work of the
Student Funding function.
 Concentration for long periods when preparing reports.
Emotional
 The ability to maintain professionalism and deal with conflicting views and not
be provoked by occasional challenging, hostile, confrontational or aggressive
behaviour.
Working Environment
 Mainly desk/office based.
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Person Specification
Post Title:
Student Funding Assistant
Responsible to:
Student Funding Team Leader
Attributes
Education
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Knowledge
Essential
Educated to HNC level or
equivalent qualification or
relevant experience in a
related environment.
Desirable
Evidence of Continuous
Professional Development.
Demonstrable knowledge of:

The services of the College

The principles of delivering
high quality, effective and
efficient support within a
Further Education
environment.

The curriculum mapping
process and course
development routes.

Current Government policy
in relation to benefit
entitlements.

Systems to support student
funding or similar services.

Comprehensive knowledge
of the Microsoft office suite.

Working knowledge of
specific systems (primarily
UNITE) within the Student
Funding function.
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Skills and
Competencies
Experience
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Excellent communication
and interpersonal skills with
the ability to communicate
in a range of formats.

The ability to plan and
prioritise a range of work
activities, involving personal
and confidential
information, meet deadlines
and work to tight
timescales.

Maintain confidentiality at
all times and support the
management of sensitive
issues appropriately.

Customer focused with the
ability to provide a
professional service at all
times.
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Excellent administration
skills and the ability to
produce high quality work
first time.

Ability to analyse and
present data and
information in final format
with minimal supervision.
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Ability to work flexibly
across all campuses in the
region.
Relevant student funding
experience, preferably
within a Further Education
environment.
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Demonstrable experience
of delivering high quality
work on time and to tight
timescales.
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
Experience of providing
support within a customer
focused environment.
Application Procedure
Please return your completed application form by 12 noon on Friday 20 November 2015
via email to ayrshirecollegecareers@ayrshire.ac.uk or alternatively to Human Resources,
Ayrshire College, Ayr Campus, Dam Park, Ayr, KA8 0EU.
The College is an Equal Opportunities employer and in this respect it would be most
helpful if you could complete and return with your application form the appropriate
questionnaire. This questionnaire will be retained by Human Resource Services and will
not be used in the selection process. Similarly, you are asked to complete the Criminal
Conviction Declaration and return. The information given on this form will be treated in the
strictest confidence. Both forms are incorporated within the College’s application form.
Please note that we do not accept CVs.
Please note that if you are shortlisted you will be advised within 4 weeks of the closing
date.
If you have not heard from us by then you must assume that you have been
unsuccessful on this occasion. If you would like to receive confirmation of this,
then please do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to receiving your completed application form and thank you for the
interest you have shown in the College.
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