Telford College of Arts and Technology staff facing job cuts
Telford College of Arts and Technology today announced that it has ‘regrettably’ entered into a consultation period which is expected to lead to up to 15 redundancies.
The staff affected are in the college’s Employer Engagement faculty – the team which delivers training for other companies – as well as TCAT’s in-house Management and Information Systems department.
Principal and chief executive Chris Scott said the cuts would not impact upon the college’s services to full or part-time learners at either its Wellington campus, or its joint venture with the University of Wolverhampton at Southwater.
“We have made every effort to avoid this outcome, but the succession of cuts, and changes to Government funding priorities, have left us with no alternative.
“The further education sector has been subject to drastic funding cuts by the Government for a number of years now, and this has forced us to once again restructure parts of our operation.”
He added: “We are proud of our talented staff, who have always been and remain key to the long-term success of Telford College, and it is with great regret that we are making this announcement.”
The college, which employs approximately 500 people, has now entered into a consultation period with all staff whose jobs may be affected.
It is also working closely with the Further Education Commissioner after being given ‘administered college’ status, and playing an active role in a new area review which has been launched to shape the future of further education for post-16 students across Shropshire and The Marches.
Mr Scott added: “It is my priority to ensure that we continue to provide an excellent offer to our students, to the employers that we work with, and to our partners.
“The future success of our students, and providing the sort of skills which employers are telling us they so desperately need, remains at the heart of what we do.
TCAT is one of 12 colleges taking part in the area review, which the Government says could see a move towards ‘fewer, larger, more resilient and efficient providers, and more effective collaboration across institution types’.
Mr Scott said: “We’re not viewing the area review as a threat in any way. Telford & Wrekin is a growing area with very specific needs, and through our current partnership with the University of Wolverhampton, we are well placed to deliver.
“We are keen to play an active and constructive role, working with colleagues from governing bodies, Local Enterprise Partnerships, local authorities and commissioners to reach a deal which is best for the learners of Telford & Wrekin.”
TCAT has been successfully delivering vocational qualifications on the premises of large employers since 2007, leading to a steady increase in support staff.
But the Government withdrew funding for this type of activity in 2012, and redirected the cash towards apprenticeships.
Mr Scott added: “The college has sought to avoid making these latest redundancies. However it is now obliged to make further savings and we have commenced talks with trade unions to support the process moving forwards.
“We hope that, as far as possible, any redundancies will be voluntary, and we will offer staff whose jobs are at risk all possible support during what we acknowledge are very difficult, distressing, but sadly unavoidable circumstances.
“These are challenging times in the Further Education sector, particularly for colleges with a large adult education provision, where funding has fallen significantly.
“Here at TCAT, we have one of the largest adult education provisions in the region, so we have been disproportionately affected. So I welcome the support from the Further Education Commissioner at this time, in helping us to overcome the difficulties that we are facing.
“It can only assist us in our quest to ensure that we continue to be a vibrant college playing a positive role in helping great futures to begin for our learners.”
