The University of Bristol must cut 250 jobs by 2011-12 and find annual savings of ?15 million, its vice-chancellor has told staff.

Eric Thomas has written to Bristol staff with an update on the financial position in a letter published on the university¡¯s website on 11 November.

Professor Thomas says: ¡°Regrettably, since staff costs account for about two thirds of all our expenditure, it will not be possible to avoid a further reduction in the number of jobs.

¡°We estimate that we will have to shed about 250 more posts by 2011-12. This represents about 5 per cent of the total number of jobs at the university.

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¡°We are keen to make the reduction through voluntary means as far as possible, and through improvements to organisational structures and ways of working.¡±

On the current financial position, Professor Thomas tells staff that the higher-than-expected cost of the October 2008 pay award and the costs of the university¡¯s voluntary severance scheme were key factors.

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He says: ¡°We budgeted for a ?6 million operating surplus in 2008-09 but now expect to report a ?4 million deficit. In other words, we are ?10 million adrift.¡±

Current measures to address the financial position include a review of academic activity and structures, Professor Thomas says.

He notes that ¡°faculties are specifically reviewing their performance, operations and structure in a quest for improvements to the way they pursue their academic goals¡±.

And he cites a review of support processes, ¡°from managing finances to recruiting students¡±, which has identified a number of ways in which the university is ¡°wasting resources¡±.

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john.morgan@tsleducation.com