We’d like to remind you about the opportunity to buy extra days of annual leave for 2025-26 and also share some great partnerships we have to save you money over this summer holiday season.
Annual Leave Purchase Scheme: Make the most of your time off!
We want to remind you about the Annual Leave Purchase Scheme (ALPS) . This scheme lets you acquire additional annual leave (up to 5 days, pro-rata), allowing you to, for example, allocate more time for special events or spend extra quality moments with your children during their school holidays. In 2024-25 holiday year, just under 400 UCL staff made use of this tool to enhance their time off.
All additional leave purchase requests for 2025-26 annual leave year needs to be submitted and approved before the end of the current annual leave year, which is 30 September. Once approved, the agreed-upon leave will be added to your entitlement for the 2025-26 annual leave year. Learn more about the ALPS and submit your request on MyHR (go to Employee Self Service Purchase annual leave).
Barracudas - holiday camps
We understand that balancing work and family life can be particularly challenging during the long summer holidays. Barracudas offers UCL staff a special discount rate during the school holidays. You can benefit from:
- £20 off weekly rates
- £5 off daily rates
- Half price early and late clubs
To book, visit www.barracudas.co.uk or and use the code UCL2025. This offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Gripped
Discover the excitement of Gripped London, an action-packed aerial activity park designed for adventure enthusiasts. With a range of thrilling challenges to experience, including daring High Ropes courses, a 1km dual-line zip trek and 50m speed slides Gripped offers a variety of aerial activities to test your bravery.
UCL Staff can enjoy a 20% discount on All Inclusive passes when visiting Gripped London. To claim your discount, visit http://www.begripped.com and apply the code GRIPPEDUCL20 at checkout. For more information on the park’s activities and facilities, please visit the website or contact Gripped London directly. Terms and conditions apply.
Go Ape
An employee-owned company, Go Ape offer outdoor experiences and activities across 37 locations UK wide, from zip wires to super-springy trampoline nets in the trees, to off-road Segways. UCL employees can enjoy 10% off on all’activities by using the discount code UCLAPE25 (offer expires 31 Dec 2025, excludes Saturdays).bYond prepaid shopping card
Enjoy up to 15% cashback* at over 90 UK retailers , including supermarkets, high street favourites, restaurants, and more.
Summer shops and what you can buy:
- B&Q (3%) & Wickes (8%) - All your BBQ and garden essentials: patio furniture, BBQs, planter pots, outdoor lights
- Halfords (7%) - Stay on the move: bike accessories, pumps, car roof boxes, summer car care
- Go Outdoors (8%) - Hiking boots, camping gear, sleeping bags-perfect for weekend getaways
- Supermarkets - Asda (3%), Sainsbury’s (3%), M&S (4.5%), Waitrose (3%) - Stock up on picnic and BBQ food, fresh fruits, drinks
- Restaurants & Pubs - Bella Italia (8%), Café Rouge (8%), PizzaExpress (10%)
- Experience & Staycation Providers - HotelsGift (7%), Virgin Experience Days (15%), LastMinute.com (5%) - Day trips, mini-breaks, and summer adventures
*Cashback means you get a percentage of the amount you have spent credited to your Vault balance. Cashback will be in a pending status for 30 days, after which it will transition to paid and we will add it to your Vault balance.
The bYond card is issued by GVS Prepaid Limited, pursuant to licence by Mastercard International Incorporated.
Enterprise Cars
UCL Staff can enjoy zero membership fees (usually starting from £60 pa) on Enterprise Car Club , which can be used for shorter hourly rentals. Additionally, you can benefit from discounts on longer car rentals through Enterprise Cars.
British Film Institute (BFI)
UCL employees can get a £5 discount on their first year as Paperfree Direct Debit Members at the BFI. Use promo code UCLSTAFF at the checkout for Paperfree Direct Debit Membership. Please visit the Member Offers section of BFI’s website.
Boundless
Boundless is a membership club for people working in the civil service or public sector. They provide savings, events and a variety of free benefits included in the annual membership fee.
Boundless membership includes unlimited access to top UK attractions (e.g. Kew gardens, WWT centres), provide deals and discounts on dining and days out, holiday properties, motoring and insurance high street, supermarket and travel savings.
- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000
