More than 120 Sheffield Hallam University staff face redundancy

The University and College Union said the role of principal lecturers is being replaced

More than 120 staff at Sheffield Hallam University have been issued with "risk of redundancy" letters.

They have until 18 March to apply for voluntary redundancy or one of a "limited number of roles", said the University and College Union (UCU).

Those affected were "grade 9" staff members, including principal lecturers, it added.

The university said there were 120 new roles to apply for that were "ring-fenced" for principal lecturers.

The UCU also claimed the principal lecturer roles would be replaced by lesser qualified grade 6 academic tutor roles - which Sheffield Hallam University labelled "inaccurate".

If that happened, it would be a breach of the "national and local framework agreement" between the employers and unions for the "modernisation of pay structures in higher education", the UCU said.

However, a university spokesperson said the academic tutor role was a "new entry-level position for those looking to begin their academic career" and not to replace the principal lecturer roles.

Sheffield Hallam University recently underwent a voluntary severance scheme under which 140 academic staff have left or are planning to leave.

In a letter to the university's Vice-Chancellor Professor Liz Mossop, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "I am aware that there are proposals for academic role changes at Sheffield Hallam University that will lead to a breach of both the national and local framework agreement."

A university spokesperson said that "some academic and leadership roles are being removed", but several new roles were being created, including a new Associate Head of School.

They added: "Therefore, we do not expect significant numbers of staff whose roles are at risk to opt for voluntary redundancy."