- Like many universities, Edge Hill has been impacted by funding challenges and rising operational costs, including inflationary pressures driving higher utility prices, and increased staffing costs such as pension contributions and national insurance.
- In addition, fewer international students in the UK have resulted in increased competition between universities for UK-based students.
- Edge Hill remains strongly committed to our core priorities of delivering excellent teaching, providing an outstanding student experience and driving impactful research and knowledge exchange.
- We are equally as focussed on retaining a supportive, collaborative environment where we prioritise staff wellbeing.
- To address some of the financial challenges, we have already made savings through several cost-cutting measures, including cancellation of campus developments and stringent savings targets across all departments.
- We have also strategically increased our focus on commercial and income-generation activity.
- However, to guarantee our long-term financial sustainability we must regrettably make difficult decisions now. We have advised our staff that we need to reduce our staffing costs by £10m.
- We are launching two schemes which will enable staff to either reduce their hours or apply for voluntary severance and these schemes aim to ensure we are in the strongest position to avoid compulsory redundancies.
- Staff have been informed of the new voluntary schemes, which will open later this month.
- This is a difficult time for the entire University community, and we want all staff and students to feel heard and supported. We have a range of support in place for anyone who would like to discuss their wellbeing or financial options.
- We will do our utmost to be as open and transparent as we can during this time, and we are keeping unions informed. We are in open dialogue with the University and College Union (UCU) and Unison and continue to value their input.
- In the current climate, we cannot avoid making reductions to our staff costs. Taking this step now means we can protect the University’s future, ensuring we remain strong, stable and able to deliver for our students, staff and the communities we serve, in the years ahead.
This page will be promptly updated, when necessary. The latest update was published on Monday 10 February 2025.
February 10, 2025
