Does British Council pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, British Council employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.1 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at British Council. This rating has improved by 3% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at British Council?

64% of British Council employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated British Council 3.7 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.8 for culture and values and 3.2 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at British Council?

English Teacher (162) , English Language Assistant (100) , Teacher (100) , Exam Invigilator (93) , Project Manager (67) , Invigilator (64) , Teaching Assistant (55) , Manager (44) , ESL Teacher (38) , Customer Service Representative (30) , Teacher of English (26) , Language Assistant (25) , IELTS Invigilator (24) , Administrative Assistant (23) , Consultant (23)

What are the pros of working at British Council according to real employee reviews?

"Meaningful and some great colleagues" ((in 172 reviews)); "Good work life balance and exposure to the market." ((in 122 reviews)); "Great people to work with and for." ((in 110 reviews)); "Great working environment and friendly" ((in 71 reviews)); "It's just a shame that the good culture was destroyed by bad organisational management." ((in 67 reviews))

What are the cons of working at British Council according to real employee reviews?

"Salaries are low and you have to work from the office most of the time." ((in 201 reviews)); "Low pay and insanely bureaucratic" ((in 116 reviews)); "But yes Management is Poor and Biased !" ((in 103 reviews)); "Those in senior leadership positions tend to serve themselves and their careers ahead of the corporate mission." ((in 36 reviews)); "This permeates across different offices and countries too as the managers have very often mixed a lot in past roles." ((in 31 reviews))

What are employees saying about British Council layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about British Council layoffs and their outlook for job security at British Council in 2026.

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British Council

British Council reviews

Compare reviews

3.7

64% would recommend to a friend

(2,305 total reviews)

Ciarán Devane

63% approve of CEO

46% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

4.0

Diversity & inclusion

3.8

Culture & values

3.7

Work/Life balance

3.2

Senior management

3.2

Career opportunities

3.1

Compensation and benefits

British Council has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 2,305 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The British Council employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the ONG y Organizaciones sin fines de lucro industry (3.7 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

2K reviews

4.0

Oct 19, 2016

Good company for beginners

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible working, super friendly environment. One will be able to achieve good work-life balance.

Cons

comparatively lower salaries and non aggressive company. Learning and development opportunities are rare and growth is very slow. Company is good for entry level jobs.

4.0

Jul 7, 2016

Teacher of English

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Working at the British Council allows you to share with a great number of very diverse people, in a wide range of society sectors. As a teacher, I've had many opportunities for professional development, and I've always felt compelled to challenge myself further! This is usually achieved by great organizations. It also helps a lot that I just love working here, as I believe in the wider aims of the work we do.

Cons

1. Management structure is not horizontal enough. 2. Managers aren't generally open to criticism and advice.

1.0

Jan 10, 2023

Racist, nepotistic and wasteful

Communications manager

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Lots of talented people around the world and an interesting mission.

Cons

The British Council has a culture of racism and bullying. White, British people are over promoted and people of colour are subjected to constant micro aggressions. People not in the UK are undervalued and disrespected. Bullying and nepotism are endemic, especially in Human Resources and Marketing. Money is often given to projects that have no purpose. Salaries are very low for most people. Promotion is often based on who you know and trust in leadership is low.

Viewing 16 - 18 of 2,305 Reviews

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Jobs at British Council

Executive - Operations

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SH- Associate Operations

SH- Executive - Business Process Services, English & Exams

Talent Acquisition Manager