Consultations update

Dr Margaret Cook, UHI Perth Principal and Chief Executive said

“The collective consultation process within UHI Perth is progressing. We have met with our recognised trade unions and employee representatives on two occasions and met with a number of staff teams, individuals and external stakeholders as well as receiving feedback, questions and comments from both within and outside the College. 

“We recognise the anxiety and challenges that this process raises, and have agreed the following changes:

• The consultation process will be extended until the end of September 2023, thereby giving more time to consider alternative proposals, options and suggestions.
• The Nursery will be removed from the current consultation process. The Nursery Manager will work with the Vice Principal, Operations to look at what options can be considered to make the nursery a viable option for the future. Children will continue to be accepted for the 2023/24 academic year.  Staff have been informed and a letter will go out to parents/carers today.
• We will continue with securing approval for the enhanced voluntary severance scheme.
• We will continue to answer questions and provide information to and through the consultation group, internal intranet, engage email on engage.perth@uhi.ac.uk, regular Senior Management Team (SMT) drop-in sessions, opportunities for SMT to meet with teams or groups of staff/students and two open staff meetings planned for 2 June 2023.

“The College remains in a position where we have a potential £3million deficit going into the 2023/24 academic year, and we continue to have rising staff costs along with spiralling inflation and utility costs. The changes being considered are to ensure the long-term sustainability of UHI Perth.”