Exclusive: Email reveals UoM’s plans to cut jobs due to income loss

The email estimates a potential income loss of £160 million

| UPDATED

Job losses at the University of Manchester are imminent, according to an email seen by The Manchester Tab.

The email, sent to all involved with Professional Services (PS) by Registrar, Secretary, and Chief Operating Officer Patrick Hackett, reveals there will be “some job losses” due to a potential income loss of £160 million as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to “make additional savings,” the email states the University needs to “respond to our new environmental shift to new ways of working more quickly.”

The full email, seen by The Manchester Tab is titled: “Reshaping PS.”

The email goes on to say: “The past few months have been challenging for PS and the whole University.

“Our first priority has been supporting our students and colleagues and ensuring that our University has been able to play an important role in the national effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This has involved some difficult decisions and some rapid adjustments in the way that we all work. I am proud of what we have achieved.”

The email references the University’s vision, ambition and strategic plan a number of times and claims that “reshaping PS” will play a crucial role in the delivery of that vision.

“To deliver this ambition we need to reduce our pay and non-pay costs, which unfortunately will mean making difficult decisions and some job losses.”

Later in the email, it is said that the “work has already started with the current freeze on non-essential staff recruitment, making difficult decisions on the renewal of fixed-term contracts and offering the current Voluntary Severance (VS) Scheme.”

“Our plan won’t be easy to deliver and although the vast majority of staff will remain, we recognise that some colleagues will be leaving the University.

“I very much regret this, but we have a responsibility to ensure the long term sustainability of our University as a place where colleagues can thrive and contribute to our core goals.”

The University has said: “Changes to roles in the University are given very careful and serious consideration. Any proposals for
structural changes will include formal consultation with the trade unions.”

In response to whether there is a similar programme for academics, they said: “No further decisions will be made about academic staff until we have confirmation of our student numbers in autumn 2020.

“As our plans develop more information will be shared with staff in August 2020.”

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• From halls and lectures to nights out: What uni will look like in September

The Deaf Institute and Gorilla have both been saved from closure by new buyer

Marcus Rashford gets honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester