Jobs at risk as South Staffordshire College cuts continue
Jobs are at risk at a college under new cost-cutting measures, it has been revealed.
Staff at South Staffordshire College have been told via a letter seen by the Express & Star that staffing, curriculum, commercial activities and other services are now under review.
Bosses say ‘significant action to reduce costs’ must be taken for it to ‘remain financially viable as a stand-alone college’.
Its Cannock campus is expected to stop teaching for good on Friday, with a staff presence in place throughout the summer to deal with any queries.
As part of this move, dubbed Management of Change Programme 2017, bosses have opened voluntary redundancy and voluntary reduction in hours schemes, open to all staff, which will run until July 21.
It is not known how many workers chiefs hope will take redundancy.
The college has its main Rodbaston campus in Penkridge, and bosses say its financial difficulties have arisen due to the ‘under recruitment’ of new pupils.
The letter, written by director of HR Debbie Smith, says: “As you will be aware from the last staff communication sessions, the college needs to take significant action to reduce costs further to remain financially viable as a stand-alone college.
“The decision to transfer provision from Cannock will contribute to the savings needed, but further efficiencies are required due to the reduction in funding we will have in 2017/18, due to the under recruitment of learners.”
The letter continues: “I am sure in receiving this communication you will be concerned about what this may mean for you personally, as well as for our learners and the college in general.
“Regular and effective communication is paramount and I’d like to reassure you that all efforts will be made to ensure you are kept informed.”
Staff were sent the letter on June 19. Four days later the college officially opened its new £5.4 million AgriSTEM building in Penkridge.
The closure means the town will be left without a further education establishment for the first time since the 1930s.
The courses offered at Cannock, including hairdressing and music, will be relocated to the college’s other campuses in Penkridge, Lichfield and Tamworth.
Students based in Cannock enrolled on these courses will be offered free travel to the other campuses.
Graham Morley, the chief executive of the college, said: “Staff are aware that we are launching phase 1 of a management change programme to address current and future funding reductions in a proactive way, which will totally re-shape and sustain the college for the future.
“The college needs to reduce its operating costs to ensure its continuing sustainability and long-term future as the provider of further education to the South Staffordshire community it serves, and maintenance of good financial health is vital to this.
“We are taking the necessary actions to ensure there is a robust financial base to support the college to grow to respond to the needs of learners, employers and stakeholders.
“We are working with trade unions and staff to explore options to achieve these changes, including voluntary redundancy, so at this stage it would be premature to speculate as to the number of staff likely to be affected, if any at all.”
