University of Bolton to consult on range of job cuts

An internal email from Vice Chancellor Professor George E Holmes seen exclusively by The Bolton News sets out plans to consult staff about “redundancies” in some areas.

It is understood that this could mean jobs are cut across all faculties at the Deane Road-based university as part of a cost-cutting programme.

The email said: “In line with the objectives of the programme announced today, Heads of School and Divisions have reviewed their areas and developed plans for consultation to achieve further efficiencies.

“The plans developed will regrettably mean a reduction in our staff resource through a formal process which may lead to redundancies in some areas.

Staff at the university are being consulted about job cuts (Image: University of Bolton)

“Again, I must stress that this is subject to consultation with our recognised trade unions initially and then with colleagues in those areas directly affected.”

It added: “Following approval by the governing body, the University therefore commenced a collective consultation process on July 4 2024, which is proposed to run in accordance with statutory requirements for a period of up to 45 days.”

The email, which was sent out to members of staff at the university said that the institution had come through a positive period, having reached the Guardian’s Top 30 ranking.

It also said that plans to open a medical school boded well for the future, but that the university sector all over the country was facing challenges.

The email added: “Notwithstanding this strong trajectory we are, as I have said on many occasions, not immune to the pronounced weakness in the UK in home mature student demand for undergraduate programmes faced by new (post-1992) universities, declines in international student recruitment (following Government changes to visas) and the main tuition fee being frozen for a decade (causing a £3,400 a year reduction in the ‘real’ per student ‘unit of resource’ since 2012).

“Pension and energy costs, due to decisions beyond our control and international tensions including the invasion of Ukraine respectively, have also increased our costs on an ongoing basis by a total of over £2m per year. 

“This has been compounded by a period of high inflation which has increased our costs more widely.”

It added: “Pay costs have over the last decade risen by almost 20 per cent; and whilst this increase is not proper recognition of the work colleagues in the sector do, the 20 per cent rise outstrips income from fees which, as I indicated, have been flat for a decade or more.

“Employer pension contributions especially for the TPS scheme have risen sharply with no relief to universities unlike that received in the school or college sectors.

“These are key factors that are genuinely beyond our control.” 

The email said it hoped that it would emerge as a ”stronger and more sustainable university” after the process.

In response, a university spokesperson said they would make no comment on a confidential internal communication.

He added: "Most universities are managing their cost base in a similar way to us at Bolton.

"The university is engaging actively in proper consultation with our trade union representatives to seek the best possible outcome.

"It would be inappropriate to comment further until consultation ends in around 45 days’ time."

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But opposition to the proposed job cuts has already begun in the form of a petition set up by English student Will Renshaw.

He said: “Seeing as it could effect my course as well, I decided to take action.

“Quite a few of the teaching staff could be made redundant, which could also mean that students won’t receive the support they should.”

He added: “It’s not the smallest department, there are about 20 to 40 students so it could have quite a significant impact on them.”

Mr Renshaw’s petition can be found by searching Halt the University of Bolton's redundancy plans negatively impacting students and staff on Change.org.