University of Northampton announces new round of voluntary redundancies amid mounting financial pressures

The university recently announced that discussions about a proposed Voluntary Severance Scheme (VRS) will take place in November.

A UoN spokesman says the institution is currently facing serious financial challenges due to economic and market pressures.

The spokesman said: “There are pressing challenges faced by UK universities including the UoN. Economic, market, and policy factors, such as frozen tuition fees, rising operational and energy costs, and recruitment issues across the sector, have threatened higher education’s financial stability in 2024 and beyond.

“UoN must do what it can to secure its future in these difficult times and that is why these proposals have been put forward. The decision to begin this process of consultation has not been reached lightly, and we appreciate that it is not an easy choice for those colleagues who may opt to take the enhanced voluntary severance package we will offer.

“We will continue to do all we can to support staff through the process and ensure that there is minimum disruption to our students.”

The scheme, if approved, is expected to offer “more attractive financial terms” to employees wishing to leave the university compared to compulsory redundancy options, the spokesperson said.

This announcement follows a previous voluntary severance scheme unveiled in July, which coincided with a projected £19.3 million deficit attributed to a significant decline in international student enrolments.

Recent findings from a Freedom of Information request submitted by this newspaper revealed that 14 staff members earn more than £100,000 annually, which includes not only their salaries but also pensions and other costs.

A UoN spokesman said: "Staff salaries in higher education are benchmarked according to national data, and universities such as UoN employ highly educated and skilled colleagues at all levels.

"Despite the challenges that face the entire sector, we aim to pay all our staff at competitive salary levels.

"Following national negotiations with trade unions, UoN agreed to raise salaries for all staff in line with the recommendations from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, with the exception of the University Leadership Team, who took no inflationary pay increase for 2024/25."