Cambridge University Press outlines redundancy support for workers
- Release Date: 13/02/2009
- Country of Issue: United Kingdom
- Category: Corporate
Cambridge University Press has outlined the support it intends to give to staff affected by the recent announcement on potential redundancies.
It has been agreed with staff representatives that affected staff will receive enhanced redundancy packages.
Staff will also be given one-to-one support and advice in finding new jobs, which means help with training for finding work in new industries, writing CVs and paid time off to go to interviews. Access to computer terminals for printing staff who currently do not use them in their every day work will also be arranged, to help with online job research.
It is also hoped that a number of staff with transferable skills will be redeployed within the Press.
The exact numbers of staff to be made redundant, and the criteria for redundancy, are part of the ongoing consultation with staff and union representatives.
Cambridge Printing Services Ltd (CPSL), along with many other printers, has been going through a difficult time and its book printing has run at a loss for nine out of the last ten years. Recent developments in printing technologies have seen a shift towards digital content that is printed at the time and in the place it is needed.
The long-term plans for CPSL involve reorganising it as a printer to the European part of Cambridge University Press’s publishing operation. Academic books destined for Europe will still be printed in Cambridge.
Chief Executive Stephen Bourne says: “This has been an incredibly difficult decision for all concerned, and it is not something that we have done lightly. Since April 2008 we have been looking at every other option for making our printing business more profitable, but the long-term changes in the industry, and the future forecasting we have done, have shown that our printing department will not be viable in its current form.
“We have been in talks with staff and the Union about the seriousness of the situation since April of last year and we intend to carry on working closely with them to ensure affected staff are looked after as much as possible.”
In other areas the Press is performing well. It has seen increased profitability over the past four years, and last year saw a market-leading growth rate of 12%.
Over the past two years, Cambridge University Press has created 114 new jobs in Cambridge in the publishing part of its business.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
About Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s leading research institutions. It is the oldest publisher and printer in the world, having been operating continuously since 1584.
Throughout its history, the Press has maintained a reputation for innovation and enterprise, through publishing the latest research, and through supporting the latest methodologies for teaching and learning. Its purpose is to advance learning, knowledge and research worldwide. It publishes 240 journals and over 2,500 books annually for distribution in nearly every country in the world.
The main business of the Press is publishing. There are 1,700 members of staff employed in publishing and approximately 170 in printing.
If you would like more information, contact the Press Office:
- Telephone: +44 (0)1223 325544
- Fax: +44 (0)1223 325062
- Email: press@cambridge.org
- Post: The Press Office, University Printing House, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 8BS, United Kingdom