Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Economics, government & businessLatest NewsEmployment lawHR strategyOffshoring

British Council plan to cut 500 jobs and offshore to India slammed by union

by Louisa Peacock 11 Jun 2009
by Louisa Peacock 11 Jun 2009

Unions have condemned the British Council’s announcement that it intends to cut up to 500 jobs over the next two years and consider offshoring work to India.

In a message to staff issued today, the British Council, which promotes the UK overseas, announced that it intended to reduce its staff by between 400-500 jobs – about one-third of the organisation – over the next two years. This would affect workers based in five offices across the UK – Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Manchester. Although a voluntary exit scheme has been announced, compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out.

Tony Fisher, branch secretary at PCS union, said: “Our members are understandably devastated by the news. With mortgages and bills to pay, they simply cannot afford to lose their employment in the present economic climate.”

The announcement comes only hours after Lord Kinnock stood down as chairman of the council, citing a conflict of interest following his wife’s appointment as Europe minister.

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, added: “We are angry that we have been given very little consultation over these proposals and will be doing everything we can to ensure that no member is forced out of their job. It comes as a surprise that the British Council, whose remit is to promote Britain abroad, is even considering offshoring jobs.

“These proposed job losses, if not resisted, will add to the already rising unemployment figures and do nothing to help economic recovery.”

However, Martin Davidson, chief executive of the British Council, said the job cuts were unavoidable due to external financial pressures. “The fall in the value of sterling, coupled with government requirements to reduce costs, have hit our finances. We must adapt to these realities if we are to safeguard and grow our ever-more valuable cultural relations work overseas,” he said.

A statement added the cuts centred on a voluntary early retirement scheme for permanent staff, announced today, and would also include a significant reduction in temporary staff and contractors. The organisation also expects to reduce the number of posts overseas by several hundred.

“A final decision has not yet been made on the location or where jobs will be lost,” the statement said.

Avatar
Louisa Peacock

previous post
Cumbria prison staff fear for safety
next post
Hastings Direct bucks recession to seek more staff

You may also like

One in four HR teams still using ‘outdated’...

22 Mar 2023

Just Eat to stop employing its own couriers

22 Mar 2023

Former Crossrail worker details blacklisting claims

22 Mar 2023

Inflation increases despite expectations

22 Mar 2023

Pay awards expected to drop back to 5%

22 Mar 2023

Workplace bullying: Handling staff with dark traits

21 Mar 2023

Ramadan in the workplace: top tips for employers

21 Mar 2023

Casey review: Met Police ‘boys’ club culture is...

21 Mar 2023

Nurses and midwives in Scotland accept new NHS...

21 Mar 2023

Amazon announces 9,000 more job losses

21 Mar 2023

  • Sodexo Engage – Mountain of lost benefits ebook PROMOTED | Help your people feel the impact of your benefits...Read more
  • Neurodiversity: How to make the workplace more inclusive (webinar) WEBINAR | Can your organisation truly be inclusive...Read more
  • How HR can facilitate internal talent mobility PROMOTED | Should internal talent mobility be a priority...Read more
  • Bereavement in the workplace: How training can help HR get it right PROMOTED | HR professionals play an essential role...Read more
  • UK workforce mental wellbeing needs PROMOTED | The mental wellbeing support employers are providing misses the mark...Read more
  • The Workplace Today Guide: Why it pays to support your staff’s financial health PROMOTED | The cost of living crisis has hit...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+