University confirms exit of around 180 staff

University bosses yesterday confirmed around 180 staff took either voluntary redundancy or early retirement at the end of last month. Many of their roles are not being replaced.

The university told its 3,000-strong workforce in March it was looking to make cutbacks in the face of an impending reduction in Government funding.

It is understood the number of people who put their names forward to go was higher than 180.

Decisions on the successful applicants were made on what Leeds Met has called a “cost savings” basis. Academic and administrative staff are among those who have left.

A Leeds Met spokesman said: “The number of students that universities can take has been reduced and capped, and therefore funding from Government will reduce as a direct result.

“All universities will be looking to reduce their outgoings as well as grow their income.”

The spokesman also said there were no plans for further staffing cuts but admitted the situation was being kept “under review”.

Last month’s departures follow a turbulent few years for Leeds Met.

Its vice chancellor, Prof Simon Lee, stepped down in 2009 amid allegations of bullying, which he denied.

Under Prof Lee, the university invested heavily in a series of profile-raising sporting partnerships.

Its deals have included a failed takeover of Leeds’s professional rugby union club that left Leeds Met with a £10m bill.

Leeds Met was the lowest-charging university in England during Prof Lee’s tenure, with fees of £2,000 a year leading to an increase in applications for places at the former polytechnic.

Last year, however, it announced plans to start charging fees of £8,500 as a result of what it called “huge cuts” in Government funding.