Business leaders reassure traders over uni job cuts

Huddersfield business owner Matt Porter says job and course cuts at the town's university are "scary"

Business leaders in Huddersfield have moved to reassure independent traders in the town concerned over the impact job cuts and the axing of several courses at the town's university might have on them.

It was announced in April that about 200 jobs and about 12 courses at the university were to be lost to "secure a dynamic and sustainable future" for the site.

But one business owner has said he feared the job and course cuts would have a "huge reputational damage" on the town and had left him and others worried.

But Martin Hathaway, from Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "I don't think the impact will be as much as one might expect", adding that it was certainly "not happening yet".

Huddersfield University announced in April that its workforce would be reduced by about 12%

Matt Porter, owner of Porter Hill Tea Company in Huddersfield, said a third of his clients were students.

"So much of Huddersfield's economy is based on this huge university. We notice when the students aren't here," he said.

"I had an interruption of lectures when I was at university and it had a massive impact on me. I ended up dropping out.

"That was just one course. For it to happen for so many students at one university in a town that massively relies on the reputation of that university for its small town economy, I think it'll have huge reputational damage."

Mr Porter said he believed the cuts would affect footfall in the town, adding that "the more I think about it, the scarier it gets".

Katie Raynor, believes job cuts will affect the number of students choosing Huddersfield University

Meanwhile, Katie Raynor, owner of Crafty Praxis Yarns, said University of Huddersfield students were "vital" to her business, with around a quarter of her customers being students.

Ms Raynor said she believed the jobs and course cuts would affect the number of students choosing to come to the university - and that would have an impact on businesses in the town.

"It would definitely have an impact on takings, because if there's not as many people through the door, then you're not going to have as much money spent," she said.

"There's no denying it, a lot of the customers who shop in Huddersfield town centre are students. If there are less, it is going to definitely have an effect on the people who sell."

Business owner Gabby Hurts describes students as "crucial" to Huddersfield's economy

Gabby Hurts, who opened Hive, a café and community space designed to support adults with additional needs, following the Covid pandemic said students were "really important to Hive and crucial for the wider economy".

"I think by their very nature, students have really strong ethics and principles," Ms Hurts said.

"The cuts may significantly impact the desire to attend Huddersfield, which would obviously have a knock-on effect for the economy.

"We've always got those cash flow challenges as independent businesses, and obviously less students coming through will ultimately impact profitability."

'Not happening yet'

Announcing the job and course cuts in April, the University of Huddersfield said it was a "proactive effort to secure a dynamic and sustainable future" during a "financial crisis" in higher education.

The university's workforce would be reduced by about 12%, it said.

Mr Hathaway, managing director of Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said the problems currently facing universities such as Huddersfield were "national not local".

"I'm always concerned about any key organisation going through any kind of turmoil, but I don't think the impact will be as much as one might expect," he said.

"If we felt there was an impact on businesses, we would sit down with the universities - but that's not happening just yet."

Mr Hathaway added that university registrations were actually "up on last year".

A spokesperson for the University of Huddersfield said: "The university will be welcoming more UK students for the start of the new academic year, with the number of newly enrolled students up on the figures from September 2023.

"We will continue to play a significant part of the fabric and economy of Huddersfield, currently contributing approximately £300m to the local economy.

"Our growth and many exciting new developments mean our students and staff will continue to be an integral part of the economic and social life of the town centre."

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