Concerns over up to 140 job losses at university

The University of Surrey said no redundancy numbers had been confirmed

Up to 140 jobs could be lost at the University of Surrey, a union says.

An open letter from the University College Union to Surrey’s vice chancellor said members and the wider community were “extremely concerned” by plans set out in an all-staff meeting in March.

Proposals were set out for voluntary redundancies, the sale of university assets and other cost cutting exercises, according to the union.

The university said the number of redundancies had not been confirmed, and that it was not immune to the “unprecedented financial pressures” seen across higher education.

A university spokesperson said these included high inflation, high energy costs, the “sustained devaluation of tuition fees” and a recent decline in the number of international students.

They added the university's approach was "designed to minimise the impact on our people and on our core mission”.

The letter to the vice chancellor called for assurances so that staff did not “have the spectre of uncertainty hanging over them”.

Michael Moran, of the University and College Union, told BBC Radio Surrey: “At the moment all we know is that the management have announced they need to save money by cutting staff.”

He added that the “real concern” was the university’s refusal to rule out compulsory redundancy and that voluntary redundancies may be “just the start”.

The union’s letter claimed the university was trying to turn a "£10m deficit" into a "£10m surplus".

Amanda Masters, CEO of Experience Guildford, said the university was a “crucial part” of the town’s economy with staff and students visiting shops and restaurants, using public transport and more.

She said redundancies could still have a “massive, knock-on impact” further down the line.

An economic impact report looking at the 2021-22 financial year said the university generated £1.3bn for Surrey’s economy.