The University and College Union (UCU) has launched a fresh strike ballot at the University of Edinburgh, escalating tensions in an ongoing dispute over proposed job cuts that could affect up to 1,800 positions. This marks the second industrial action ballot this year as the university seeks to address a £140 million financial shortfall identified in February. Union leaders have challenged university management to rule out compulsory redundancies to avoid further disruption to academic operations.

UCU General Secretary Jo Grady criticized University Principal Professor Sir Peter Mathieson for being "slow" to engage with union representatives eight months after the institution first announced what could become the largest redundancy program in Scottish higher education history. "It's time for Professor Mathieson, and his senior management team, to take their heads out of the sand, meet with the union and rule out the use of compulsory redundancies," Grady stated. The union argues that the scale of proposed cuts would severely impact both staff workloads and student educational experiences.

The dispute at Edinburgh follows similar tensions at the University of Leicester, where UCU members are preparing for three weeks of strike action beginning next Monday. Leicester management has drawn additional criticism for threatening 50% pay deductions from staff who fail to volunteer for certain activities or refuse to reschedule cancelled classes, on top of full salary deductions for strike days. UCU branch co-chairwoman Caren Frosch condemned the approach as "an appalling stance" and urged the university to follow other institutions in guaranteeing no compulsory redundancies.

With both universities facing sustained industrial action, the higher education sector appears headed for continued turbulence. Edinburgh University UCU branch president Sophia Woodman noted that the refusal to eliminate compulsory redundancies leaves the union with "no option" but to pursue another ballot, likely resulting in further strikes. As institutions grapple with financial pressures, the standoff between administration and academic staff shows little sign of resolution, potentially affecting thousands of students and employees across the UK's university system.

Global medical technology company Convatec has announced plans to establish a new flagship research and development hub in Manchester as part of a £500 million investment in the United Kingdom. The FTSE100-listed firm, which specializes in products for chronic wounds, diabetes, urinary incontinence, and stomas, will relocate its R&D operations from Deeside to Bruntwood SciTech's CityLabs 4.0 facility, scheduled to open in 2027. This strategic move represents a significant commitment to the UK's life sciences sector at a time when several other pharmaceutical companies have been shifting investments overseas.

The new Manchester facility will become one of the largest centers in Convatec's global network, spanning 125,000 square feet across seven storeys in the £42 million CityLabs 4.0 building. Located on Hathersage Road facing the Manchester Royal Infirmary, St Mary's and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, the state-of-the-art facility will focus on research in four key therapeutic areas: advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence care, and infusion care. The company cited Manchester's "vibrant life sciences ecosystem, which includes leading universities, hospitals, and research institutions" as the primary reason for selecting the location.

Approximately 200 staff will be employed at the new Manchester hub, with most positions transferring from Convatec's existing R&D operation in Deeside, North Wales, which has served as a major research center since 1996. The company emphasized that no redundancies are planned as a consequence of the relocation and that the Deeside manufacturing site will remain unaffected, continuing to employ around 400 workers. The new Manchester facility is approximately 50% larger than the current Deeside operation and has capacity for up to 250 employees, allowing for future expansion.

Convatec's investment comes as part of a broader $1 billion worldwide R&D commitment, with the UK portion representing nearly half of this global initiative. The company, which generated $2.3 billion in revenue last year, typically allocates approximately 5% of its annual revenue to research and development. The relocation to Manchester positions Convatec to leverage the city's concentration of medical research institutions, including neighboring organizations such as the University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, biotech company QIAGEN, and MAC Clinical Research, strengthening its pipeline of new products addressing unmet needs in chronic care.