University of Sheffield Management School protest at ‘sudden’ cafe closure

The Courtyard Cafe shut last month

2 hours ago

Sam Burton | News

Members of the University of Sheffield Management School today held a protest against the ‘sudden’ closure of the department building’s cafe.

The Courtyard Cafe – owned by the university’s subsidiary UNICUS – closed last month.

In an open letter, UCU members of the Management School said they believed there had not been the decision to close the venue had been taken “without sufficient consideration of the issues that the cafe closure would have caused” to the school’s community.

The letter says that since the cafe had opened in 2013, it had been “an important resource for staff and students, playing a vital role as a central place for socialising, working together and self-care and wellbeing purposes”.

They also add that the building’s location on the steep Conduit Road and a distance from the rest of the university campus may leave individuals with disabilities most impacted by the cafe’s closure.

“Students with disabilities or health conditions have been impacted most negatively by this decision, as they cannot secure food and beverages within the building while attending their lectures, events and tutorials.

“This is also the case for colleagues with disabilities, long-term illnesses, commuting to work, and/or [with] caring responsibilities, who have often relied on the cafe’s services to maximise their stay at work.”

The UCU representatives also expressed “grave concerns” about the impact on the cafe’s UNICUS staff.

“During the workday, these colleagues are now working across three different food services sites at the University, which is quite physically demanding while creating a big emotional hole in the SUMS community. We miss their friendly presence.”

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A University of Sheffield spokesperson said in a statement: “Since Covid a number of our smaller campus cafes have struggled to cover their operating costs. This is due to several reasons such as hybrid working, the cost of living and a significant increase in food and labour costs.

“This means we took the difficult decision to close the catering provision at some of our smaller outlets – including Courtyard Cafe in the Management School.

“The social spaces that form part of these cafes will remain open for use by our staff and student committees. Vending machines are available in a number of these spaces, including the Courtyard Cafe.

“We remain committed to providing catering at other outlets across campus that are both financially sustainable and meet the demands of our customers.

“All affected staff have been offered posts in other cafes on campus and we are working to support them through the transition.

“We always welcome feedback from our students and staff and are putting together a working group to plan how we can better use the social space that formed part of the cafe area.

“We will be asking student and staff representatives to join the group to help shape the facilities on offer in the space, such as creating food preparation areas.”

Featured image via @sheffielducu on X

Sam Burton | News