Sheffield, 14 June 2026
Sheffield Hallam University’s University and College Union (UCU) branch has welcomed a significant victory after the University Executive confirmed it will no longer pursue plans to move academic staff into a subsidiary company.
The proposed model, which would have transferred staff out of direct University employment and into a separate wholly owned subsidiary, had raised serious concerns among staff about job security, governance, and loss of access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
Following sustained industrial action for thirteen consecutive days, strong engagement from members and constructive ACAS-mediated negotiations, UCU has secured an agreement that academic staff will remain employed by Sheffield Hallam University and retain access to their existing pension arrangements.
UCU Hallam said the outcome represents an important step in protecting staff conditions and safeguarding the quality and stability of teaching provision for students.
A spokesperson for UCU Hallam said:
“This is a really significant win for our members and for the wider University community. From the outset, staff were clear that plans to introduce a subsidiary company posed real risks, not only to jobs, terms and conditions, and pensions, but also to the long-term integrity of the institution.”
“We are pleased that the University has listened to the strength of feeling from staff and stepped back from these proposals. Retaining academic staff within Sheffield Hallam University ensures stability for both staff and students.”
“This outcome reflects the collective action, solidarity, and engagement of our members. It shows what can be achieved when staff come together to defend fair working conditions and high-quality higher education.”
UCU Hallam had previously warned that removing staff from the University into a subsidiary structure risked undermining employee protections, creating a two-tier workforce, and weakening institutional accountability.
The union argued that such changes could have knock-on effects for students, including impacts on continuity, student experience, and the sustainability of academic provision.
The decision to abandon the subsidiary proposal follows ongoing dialogue between UCU representatives and University management, alongside visible member engagement in branch meetings, votes and on the picket line, amid wider concern about similar models emerging across the sector.
The campaign has received strong public and political support, including a well-attended public meeting on 11 June, where elected parliamentary and council representatives came together with community members to hear concerns from staff. Those in attendance included Sheffield Central MP Abtisam Mohamed and Lord Shaffaq Mohammed, highlighting the wider significance of the issue beyond the University.
UCU Hallam emphasised that while this outcome is a major step forward, significant challenges remain.
“Our immediate focus now is on supporting academic staff at risk of redundancy and ensuring that Sheffield Hallam University management does everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies,” the spokesperson added.
“We will continue to work constructively, to protect jobs, minimise harm to staff and students, and ensure that all available alternatives to compulsory redundancies are fully explored.”
UCU Hallam said it remains committed to engaging in meaningful dialogue to ensure that future decisions support both staff and students, and to defending secure employment as the foundation of high-quality teaching and learning.