Key facts
At a glance:
- the government has committed a record £86 billion to UK research and development over the coming years: this level of support has not changed
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is launching a voluntary exit scheme, the first phase of its reforms, to help build the right skills and structure for the future
- this is not a redundancy programme: voluntary exit is designed to reduce the need for redundancies, which remain a last resort
- no decisions have been made about individual roles: any changes will follow full consultation, with redeployment and reskilling prioritised
- UKRI will invest £3.3 billion over four years in applicant-led discovery research, while halving grant processing times
Why UKRI is changing
UKRI was set up to bring coherence to the UK’s research and innovation system and ensure it delivers prosperity for the public.
To do this better, UKRI needs to streamline decision-making, strengthen partnerships with investors and delivery partners across the UK, and be clearer about its long-term plans so partners can invest with confidence.
Three things are driving the changes:
- efficiency: removing duplication and unifying professional services, so more funding reaches research and innovation directly
- modernising: ensuring each council has the skills needed for the future, including commercial awareness, strong partnerships, and effective use of new technology such as artificial intelligence
- prioritising: reducing UKRI’s own spending to manage cost pressures in parts of its research programmes, notably at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
What this means for staff
We expect our future operating model may mean fewer roles are needed in some areas and more in others.
Staff were informed today of UKRI’s intention to proceed with a voluntary exit scheme.
This is a voluntary scheme aimed at reducing the likelihood of other kinds of exit later.
Where further workforce change is needed, redeployment and reskilling will be explored first and we will consult with trade unions.
What UKRI is investing in alongside this
UKRI is investing in:
- growth in strategically important UK sectors, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and national security, targeting £3 of private investment for every £1 of public money
- Velocity, a new end-to-end innovation service to help companies start, scale and stay in the UK, launching fully in September 2027
- regional growth, including through the Local Innovation Partnership Fund
UKRI Chief Executive Professor Sir Ian Chapman said:
Our mission to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth matters more than ever.
Backed by record government investment, a vote of confidence in UKRI, we are changing how we operate to deliver the biggest impact for the UK public.
To do that we need the right skills and people in the right places across the organisation as we move to a new operating model.
The voluntary exit scheme is the first step to helping ensure we are a more agile organisation, able to take faster decisions and ensure we are maximising value from public, private and partner investment.
Video credit: UKRI
Video transcript and on-screen captions are available by watching on YouTube.
Questions and answers
Is this a redundancy programme, given UKRI says it is not facing wider financial pressure?
No. The government has committed a record £86 billion to UK research and development, and that support has not changed.
This is a voluntary scheme, designed to reduce the need for redundancies.
If redundancies are needed after the voluntary scheme, UKRI will consult with trade unions first.
How many jobs are at risk?
No decisions have been made about individual roles.
UKRI is reviewing its operating model to ensure the right skills are in the right places.
Any changes will follow thorough consultation, with redeployment and reskilling prioritised.
There is no headcount reduction target; the focus is on having the right skills in the right parts of the organisation.
Is this connected to the wider pressures facing STFC?
There are three main drivers:
- removing duplication and unifying professional services so more funding reaches research directly
- ensuring each council has future-ready skills
- reducing UKRI’s own spending to manage cost pressures in parts of its research programmes, notably at STFC