Moray UHI starts voluntary redundancy process

UHI Moray is looking for staff to apply for voluntary redundancy as part of efforts to balance the books.

The Elgin-based educational facility opened a voluntary severance scheme on Monday, which will last for three weeks. But discussions on how it is funded are still ongoing with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and UHI’s regional strategic body.

A total of 25 lecturer and 20 support staff jobs – about a quarter of the workforce – are expected to go.

Moray Trades Union Council is warning that cuts will impact the wider Moray community, and is calling on local politicians to lobby the Scottish Government to reverse funding cuts to the further and higher education sector.

Confirm that its voluntary severance scheme began on Monday, a UHI Moray spokesperson said: “It will remain open for staff applications for three weeks until noon on Monday, June 24.

“The decision process on approval of staff requests for severance will be completed over the summer period.

“UHI Moray is continuing its discussions with the SFC and the UHI regional strategic body regarding funding.

“Any restructuring of staff will be considered once the voluntary severance decisions are being made and will not change the curriculum offer available to students.”

There will be little change to art, health and social care, performing arts and teacher training courses.

But subjects including literacy and numeracy, hospitality and science are expected to be hardest hit.

Cuts will impact senior pupils at Moray secondary schools who attend the college on Wednesdays.

Advanced highers in biology and chemistry have been axed. Three foundation apprenticeships in engineering, hospitality and food and drink will also go.

The spokesperson said the “revised curriculum” at the college includes 15 HNCs, three HNDs and seven undergraduate degree programmes.

There will be an increased number of modern apprenticeship places.

But students on two programmes will need to enroll with a different college to continue their studies. The spokesperson did not say which courses.

Moray TUC states there was an 8% real terms cut to college funding in the last Scottish budget. It is also raising concerns that a slimmed down curriculum will see an increase in young people leaving the area for good.

Secretary David Blair said: “Youth drain is a huge issue here in Moray, and we lose so much talent and enthusiasm when young folk move away.

“We need to offer our young people the best opportunities to stay here and train, because we know when they leave they often don’t come back again.”