Fewer jobs at the crisis-hit UEA are at risk than first feared, it has been confirmed.

With the University of East Anglia looking to make £45m in savings in the next three years, bosses told 112 staff members that they could face redundancy earlier this year.

However, the university has said that this number has now been reduced for a second time - with 26 workers left affected.

Officials say this reduction has been able to be made due to some workers already having taken voluntary redundancy and a redeployment scheme.

Eastern Daily Press:

It comes after the removal of 179 vacant posts meant the number was scaled back to 46 earlier this month.

Meanwhile, bosses have also made a U-turn on freezing a pay award for its lowest-paid staff.

In March, it was announced that a planned annual pay rise would be frozen until next year.

However, bosses now say that 550 workers on the lowest pay band will receive part of this award next week, on August 1.

Eastern Daily Press: The Ziggurat buildings at the UEA

Deputy vice-chancellor Christine Bovis-Cnossen said: “Deferring the implementation of the pay award was a difficult decision.

"We committed to keeping this under review and we’re pleased to be able to bring forward the first round of payments for our lowest-paid staff.” 

The second instalment of the award will still not be given until June next year, as originally announced when they were first deferred.

When the university originally set out its plans, citing financially extenuating circumstances, it saw the first instalment of the payment deferred for 11 months- and a second delayed until June 2024.

The changes come following demonstrations from members of the UEA branch of the University and College Union earlier this month, which saw more than 200 academic and non-academic staff members stage a walkout.