Latest news with #DanBeard
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Welsh university collapse is a 'real danger', Senedd hears
Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru's higher education forum, told the Senedd's education committee: 'Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly.' Giving evidence to an inquiry on higher education, which was prompted by cuts at institutions across Wales, Unison called for urgent intervention from ministers. 'Nearly all universities are making cuts to some degree or another,' Mr Beard told the inquiry. Unison described the Welsh Government's February announcement of £18.5m for universities as 'nowhere near enough,' with Cardiff alone facing a £30m shortfall. 'Without a strategy and funding, Welsh universities will continue to contract, shedding staff and closing unprofitable courses,' the union said in its written evidence. Unison expressed frustration with the Welsh Government 'waiting to see' how UK ministers respond, cautioning: 'The gravity of the situation means we can't afford to wait.' The trade union said higher education institutions face a dire financial situation, with hundreds of redundancies proposed which could be devastating for Wales. 'There is a real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year,' Unison warned. Gareth Lloyd, Wales official at the University and College Union (UCU), said the union's members felt ambushed by Cardiff University's announcement of job cuts. Pinning a breakdown in trust at the university's door, he told the committee: 'The Cardiff UCU branch responded as they felt appropriate based on their membership.' Mr Lloyd said: 'On every level, discussion has to take place early on – you do not go to the press, make announcements and put people's jobs at risk.' He raised the upsetting impact of the cuts on students as well as UCU members, warning: 'If we're not careful, this could have a real detrimental effect on students who don't want to go there and that really, really worries me.' During the meeting on June 25, Mr Beard added: 'Privately, there were lots of senior leaders in other universities aghast about how Cardiff University went about it…. In the other seven institutions across Wales, they said that's the wrong way to do it.'
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Welsh university collapse is a 'real danger', Senedd hears
Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru's higher education forum, told the Senedd's education committee: 'Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly.' Giving evidence to an inquiry on higher education, which was prompted by cuts at institutions across Wales, Unison called for urgent intervention from ministers. 'Nearly all universities are making cuts to some degree or another,' Mr Beard told the inquiry. Unison described the Welsh Government's February announcement of £18.5m for universities as 'nowhere near enough,' with Cardiff alone facing a £30m shortfall. 'Without a strategy and funding, Welsh universities will continue to contract, shedding staff and closing unprofitable courses,' the union said in its written evidence. Unison expressed frustration with the Welsh Government 'waiting to see' how UK ministers respond, cautioning: 'The gravity of the situation means we can't afford to wait.' The trade union said higher education institutions face a dire financial situation, with hundreds of redundancies proposed which could be devastating for Wales. 'There is a real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year,' Unison warned. Gareth Lloyd, Wales official at the University and College Union (UCU), said the union's members felt ambushed by Cardiff University's announcement of job cuts. Pinning a breakdown in trust at the university's door, he told the committee: 'The Cardiff UCU branch responded as they felt appropriate based on their membership.' Mr Lloyd said: 'On every level, discussion has to take place early on – you do not go to the press, make announcements and put people's jobs at risk.' He raised the upsetting impact of the cuts on students as well as UCU members, warning: 'If we're not careful, this could have a real detrimental effect on students who don't want to go there and that really, really worries me.' During the meeting on June 25, Mr Beard added: 'Privately, there were lots of senior leaders in other universities aghast about how Cardiff University went about it…. In the other seven institutions across Wales, they said that's the wrong way to do it.'
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
'Real danger a university in Wales could collapse' union warns
'Real danger a university in Wales could collapse' union warns The prediction comes as one university Vice Chancellor described the current funding situation to MPs as 'like tumbling around in a washing machine' Vice Chancellors call for higher home tuition fees linked to inflation (Image: Richard Williams/WalesOnline ) There is a "real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year," a union boss has warned. Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru's higher education forum, told the Senedd's education committee: 'Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly.' He made the prediction on the same day Welsh university vice chancellors told MPs that they are "optimistic" they will survive. Giving evidence to an inquiry on higher education, which was prompted by cuts at institutions across Wales, Unison called for urgent intervention from ministers. 'Nearly all universities are making cuts to some degree or another,' Mr Beard told the inquiry. Professor Elwen Evans admitted it was "painful" shutting UWTSD's much loved Lampeter campus but said it was just too expensive. (Image: Aled Llywelyn ) Unison described the Welsh Government's February announcement of £18.5m for universities as 'nowhere near enough', with Cardiff alone facing a £30m shortfall. 'Without a strategy and funding, Welsh universities will continue to contract, shedding staff and closing unprofitable courses,' the union said in its written evidence. Article continues below One vice chancellor echoed the union's sentiment. Swansea University vice chancellor Professor Paul Boyle told the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee: "The system at the moment does not lend itself to sustainability." MPs were also told by university bosses that the extra £18m they received from the Welsh Government this year had been wiped out by higher national insurance bills. They called for domestic tuition fees to be raised to keep pace with inflation and help them stabilise. The vice chancellors of all eight Welsh universities, as well as the head of the Open University in Wales gave evidence while unions including UCU and Unison were grilled by members of the Senedd Children Young People and Education Committee. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Changes to visa rules for dependents were hitting applications from higher paying international students. This had come at the same time as they faced soaring national insurance contributions, inflation and near static domestic fees. Cardiff Metropolitan University Vice Chancellor Rachael Langford told MPs that the effect of changing government policies and rising costs in recent years made it tough to plan ahead, but she and other vice chancellors were confident the cuts they make will secure the future. Cardiff Met is among institutions shedding staff. A rally against proposed Cardiff University cuts at the Senedd "We are working hard to make sure we are still here in 10 years," said Professor Langford, "I think we will do that but we need more policy coherence (from the government). "We need more coherence in immigration, education and treasury policy. There has been a lack of coherence. It feels like we are tumbling around in a washing machine sometimes." Dr Ben Calvert, Vice Chancellor of the University of South Wales told MPs he was more than confident about his institution, which has also announced job cuts. "I think we will be OK. I think USW is in a strong cash position," he said, but admitted this could only be achieved by "rationalising". Professor Edmund Burke, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University, which is axing jobs to save £15m, said this action should mean the 140 year-old institution lasts another century and beyond. Aberystwyth University Vice Chancellor Professor Jon Timms and Professor Elwen Evans Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David said the savings they make would also put them on sounder financial footing. Professor Evans admitted it was "painful" shutting UWTSD's much loved Lampeter campus but it was just too expensive. Cardiff University (Image: John Myers ) Swansea and Cardiff's vice chancellors were more muted, saying a sustainable funding model now is vital but Wrexham University Vice Chancellor Joe Yates warned rising fees could deter applications. Professor Wendy Larner, Vice Chancellor at Cardiff, which has caused outcry over its sweeping cuts to save £28m, said she was only "reasonably confident" about the sector's ability to re-invent itself in a new global and financial landscape. "I don't think we are seeing a short term financial challenge," Professor Larner warned MPs. Swansea University vice chancellor Professor Paul Boyle questioned the "sustainability" of the current system. Article continues below The evidence sessions to the committees came at a tumultuous time for institutions with job losses and course closures. The most high profile cuts are at Cardiff University but the sector as a whole in Wales has already forecast deficits of at least £70m at the end of this academic year, with only Wrexham and UWTSD posting modest surpluses last year. The issue is reflected around the UK with around 70% of universities having to make savings. But Wales has the lowest rates of 18-year-olds applying to university, of all the UK nations and has also been hit by falling research income.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
UK Motor insurers set for losses after just breaking even in 2025, says EY
UK motor insurers are set to just about break even this year before falling to a loss in 2026, according to industry forecasters. Analysts at EY expect higher claims inflation and falling premiums, driven by heightened competition between insurers, will impede profitability. It forecasts the UK motor insurance market will have a net combined ratio (NCR) - a measure of underwriting profitability - of 100 per cent in 2025, followed by 107 per cent next year. Any number above 100 means insurers pay out more in claims and expenses than they receive in consumer premiums. EY anticipates premiums falling by 6 per cent in 2025 and increasing by 5 per cent in 2026, equivalent to a £10 saving for motorists over the two-year period. By comparison, premiums jumped by 14 per cent last year as insurers sought to offset higher costs resulting from adverse weather conditions, as well as rising raw material and spare parts costs. This helped the UK motor insurance sector achieve a combined operating ratio of 97 per cent despite paying out a record £11.7billion in claims. Premiums started going up in 2022 after the loosening of Covid-related lockdown restrictions led to people travelling in their vehicles more regularly again. While EY expects them to increase next year, it warned that car insurers will probably shrink 'deeper into the red' due to soaring claims costs. Dan Beard, UK insurance partner at EY, said: 'Following just one year of underwriting profitability in the last three, UK motor insurers are once again bracing for challenge in an increasingly uncertain market. 'The rapidly changing geopolitical, economic and regulatory picture, alongside increasing levels of consolidation, are posing very real challenges to motor insurers as they look to steer their pricing and portfolios.' 'Despite this testing environment, insurers will be keenly aware of the need to continue to support customers with better propositions whilst carefully managing costs and delivering on regulatory commitments.' EY's forecasts come amid significant consolidation in the car insurance industry. Aviva has agreed to buy Direct Line Group for £3.7billion, while Ageas intends to acquire Esure from private equity giant Bain Capital in a £1.4billion deal.
ITV News
13 hours ago
- Business
- ITV News
Wales' universities 'in crisis', unions warn
Wales' universities are in 'crisis' and risk being brought 'to their knees' - the warnings of two unions working in the sector. There has been a series of job losses and course closures announced in recent months as higher education institutions try to deal with a funding shortfall and mounting debts. Representatives of Unison and the Universities and College Union (UCU) have been giving evidence to the Senedd's Children, Young People and Education Committee today (Wednesday.) In its written evidence, Unison - which represents support staff - wrote that, 'Welsh universities are in crisis. Hundreds of job losses are expected with a catastrophic effect on staff, institutions, students, communities and the Welsh economy. 'It's dishonest for universities to talk about enhancing the student experience when this is significantly undermined by the scale of job cuts. 'There's an urgent need for Welsh government to decide what it wants the HE sector to deliver and for this to be properly funded. It must produce a detailed industrial strategy which outlines the skills and number of graduates Wales requires for the future across a range of jobs and ensure universities have the capacity to train these young people.' Meanwhile, UCU, which speaks for academic staff, wrote that 'UCU Cymru notes that Higher Education has suffered systematic failure and neglect which, combined with the recent hike in operating costs, risks bringing many Welsh institutions to their knees.' During the committee meeting Gareth Lloyd of UCU said 'The danger is, if we're not careful, this is going to have a really detrimental effect on students who don't want to go there. And that really, really worries me.' Speaking to ITV Wales after the meeting, Dan Beard of Unison, said that he fears that the job losses won't solve the problem and could make it far worse. He said that, 'My worry is we're going to see a real reduction in capacity and more job losses, perhaps even the collapse of certain universities.' The political focus on higher education will continue this afternoon in Westminster, when MPs belonging to the Welsh Affairs committee will question the Vice Chancellors and other leaders of all nine universities in Wales.
