College cuts 19 jobs midway through academic year

One departing staff member called it "not an easy day at all"

Nineteen jobs have been cut at a further education college on Tyneside midway through the academic year due to budget cuts.

The staff members were told earlier this year by Tyne Coast College that their jobs were at risk.

Union officials previously described the number of staff facing job losses during the academic year as “unprecedented”.

A spokesperson for the college said no compulsory redundancies had been made.

UCU regional support official Jon Bryan said it was a “sad day”.

“Many of those leaving have between 20 and 30 years of experience of working in further education, and it is likely that will be lost forever,” he said.

“For those colleagues that remain, and for the students who are just over halfway through the academic year, the instability and demoralisation that this will cause is difficult to measure.”

A spokesperson for Tyne Coast College said: “Six members of staff have been redeployed and 13 members of staff have opted for voluntary redundancy.”

One member of staff, who didn’t want to be named, said: “It’s a bittersweet moment for me to leave the college, after so many years.

"Leaving the students, and so many colleagues and friends, has been difficult. Not an easy day at all."