Hundreds of jobs have been lost at UCLan

Hundreds of jobs have been lost as the University of Central Lancashire re-shapes its strategy for the future.
The new flagship Engineering Innovation Centre is a key part of UCLan's multi-million pound redevelopment masterplanThe new flagship Engineering Innovation Centre is a key part of UCLan's multi-million pound redevelopment masterplan
The new flagship Engineering Innovation Centre is a key part of UCLan's multi-million pound redevelopment masterplan

The Preston-based university appealed for voluntary redundancies last year and so far around 200 people from various departments have left but the VR scheme remains open.

The university launched an open-ended voluntary redundancy scheme last June despite having a healthy bank balance.

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At the time the then joint bosses Liz Bromley and Lynne Livesey, said that despite the fact that the university was “financially stable” economic and political uncertainty in the UK, including leaving the EU, called for a rethink “to act now to protect future operations.”

A statement issued at that time said UCLan was developing strategies to manage a range of factors including the year-on-year freeze in fee levels at a time when staff and other operating costs were rising in line with inflation.”

A spokesman for the university said today: “Over 12 months ago, the University of Central Lancashire opened a voluntary severance scheme as part of a university-wide restructure to reduce staffing costs in some areas while continuing to be able to support and invest in areas of growth.

“In the region of 200 staff have chosen to leave the university via voluntary means since the scheme opened.”

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The university is in midst of a £200m 10-year masterplan which is already well underway.

Student numbers are said to be remaining buoyant for the next academic year despite the Covid-19 pandemic and both face to face and online classes are being planned for at the city campus.

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