Redundancies at James Hutton Institute near Dundee

The organisation says current "funding constraints" mean some staff will lose their jobs.

The James Hutton Institute
Published 20th Sep 2019

A number of jobs are at risk at a leading agricultural research centre near Dundee.

The James Hutton Institute in Invergowrie’s confirmed current funding constraints mean there will be redundancies.

Staff in Aberdeen and Edinburgh will also be affected – compulsory redundancies have yet to be ruled out by the organisation.

A spokesperson for the centre said: “The James Hutton Institute is undergoing significant change in how it undertakes its science activities to address the growing need to work in ever more inter-disciplinary and collaborative ways.

“It has been reviewing its science capacity to align itself more fully with future opportunities, which includes addressing climate change, the forthcoming investment through the Tay Cities Deal and access to new funding sources.

“A revised operating model has been developed in tandem with defining a structure that is affordable to address the current funding constraints.

“Unfortunately, this requires a reduction in the number of staff positions and accordingly a programme of redundancies will be undertaken.

“In the first instance a restriction on recruitment and a call for volunteers will be issued, which it is hoped will minimise the requirement for compulsory redundancies.

“The Board and management are deeply sensitive to the impact a redundancy programme will inevitably have on staff at a personal level, the wider community, and on the work of the Institute and will keep under review the requirement in light of any significant increase in the Institute’s external funding success.

A formal consultation process has commenced with the recognised Union, Prospect about these proposals.

Union negotiator Ian Perth said: “This will come as devastating news to scientists and support staff at the Institute.

"We are very disappointed that the funding arrangements for the Institute mean that the employer deems this necessary.

"In 2016, staff made a £1.7m annual contribution to the organisation’s finances by agreeing to significant pension changes and giving up their membership of the civil service defined benefit scheme.

"Prospect’s priority is to seek to protect our members from compulsory redundancies and to ensure that all those who remain in the Institute will remain on a sustainable basis.

"We have held initial discussions with the management team and have been offering robust feedback on their proposals so far.

"From our initial engagement, it is clear that the employer will make significant efforts to ensure that any redundancies are voluntary.

"We welcome the employer’s decision to initially open a voluntary register and to offer enhanced redundancy terms for those who are attracted by voluntary exit," Perth concluded.

{{news}