University puts 2,700 staff at risk of redundancy

Nearly 2,700 staff at the University of Nottingham have been placed at risk of redundancy amid "significant financial challenges".

The university confirmed on Tuesday it was proposing to cut 609 of its 7,363 full-time equivalent roles over the next three years.

Union members told the BBC staff were informed about potential redundancies in a meeting on Monday.

A spokesperson for the university said these were "really difficult decisions" that were not taken lightly, but added "doing nothing is not an option".

It is understood 2,697 staff are now at risk of "potential redundancy" and the university will first be offering voluntary redundancy.

Prof Lopa Leach, president of the UCU branch at the university, who teaches at the faculty of medicine, said: "It's a disastrous day for staff to hear this and to get these letters, people are really heartbroken and also angry, this is not necessary, it shouldn't be happening.

"The rationale that the university gives, we don't accept, that they are just going broke, it's more because of the staff, student ratios that they want, and we think they are not necessary."

She said the proposed cuts would have a big impact on students at the university.

"It means that they'll lose a lot of the academics that teach them, it will ruin their research experience and their ability to try and have more face to face meetings with us and the personal tutorship."

Prof Andreas Bieler, vice president of the UCU branch at the university, said: "From a union point of view, this is a dark day.

"People are panicking now, they will have young families, they will have mortgages, there are no jobs elsewhere.

"We sent a counter proposal to demonstrate that there is a clear alternative to go forward but they claim that their financial calculations indicate that our proposals would not save enough.

"They are at the point of wrecking the university - we are fighting for the survival of the university."

A spokesperson for the university said: "We know that change of this scale is not easy, and we do not underestimate what it means for many of our colleagues and students.

"We will be doing everything we can to support our people through the next few months.

"But doing nothing is not an option. Like many universities across the UK and globally, we face significant financial challenges and at Nottingham, we are taking action to shape our future rather than have circumstances shape it for us.

"These are really difficult decisions and we have not taken them lightly.

"It is vital that we respond to the changing sector demands to ensure we are sustainable for future generations and continue to deliver world-leading teaching and research and an excellent student experience."

The union has planned strike action later this month.

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