Scots college staff facing compulsory job losses

JOBS are to be axed at a Scottish college after too few volunteers agreed to take redundancy.

The principal of Oatridge College in West Lothian said the move, to achieve savings of 250,000, was being made with "great regret".

David James said compulsory redundancies were necessary after the college's budget was cut by 15 per cent this year.

He said: "We fully understand the impact that compulsory redundancies would have on the small number of individuals involved, and the uncertainty which the necessary restructuring might cause to those who remain, but like so many colleges, we simply have no alternative but to reduce the staffing budget.

"The recent funding announcements for 2011-12 left us facing a reduction in funding of 13.74 per cent - 468,000 in cash terms - which, in real terms, means a cut well in excess of 15 per cent when inflationary pressures, including the recent VAT increase, are taken into account."

He did not rule out cutting some courses altogether to save money.

He added: "It is ironic in the extreme that we are forced into this action at a time when the demand for student places is likely to reach an all-time high. Last year, applications were up by 185 per cent and it looks very likely they will increase again this year."

The threat of compulsory redundancies comes less than three months after Oatridge received a glowing report from HMIe inspectors for its success in preparing its learners for careers in the land-based industries, a sector where employers are struggling to find new recruits.

Only a few days ago, former Oatridge students took the top two titles in the Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards, organised by Lantra Scotland, the sector skills council.

The college, which was originally set up to serve the farming industry, employs 120 full- and part-time staff.