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Music college students stage protest to fight staff job losses
Students from a music college in Bristol have staged a protest to show support for their teachers who are at risk of redundancy.
Bristol24/7 understands dozens of staff at BIMM Institute, which has two campuses near Stokes Croft, could lose their jobs due to restructuring.
Coinciding with BIMM’s open day on Saturday, a crowd of current students and graduates from the music education provider stood outside the school building on Moon Street in opposition to the move.
is needed now More than ever
They held placards which read: ‘Management are singing in the wrong key’, ‘Save our staff’ and ‘Education quality nose dive’.
Meanwhile, BIMM claimed that changes are needed to provide a “better student and lecturer experience” and there will be “no reduction” in teaching staff due to the restructuring.
Protesters belive the quality in education at BIMM Bristol will “nose dive” due to the restructuring
Students in the city have formed an action group (@bimmbristolstudentactiongroup) to fight the restructuring and call for union recognition, with other protests taking place at Brighton campuses.
“There’s been a growing tension and a need to stand up for our staff who have been given no choice but to either take redundancy or be demoted,” one graduate in songwriting, who wished to remain anonymous, told Bristol24/7.
“We are going to lose staff members that a lot of the students have a really lovely trusting bond with and who’ve completely shaped their experiences.”
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BIMM was founded in 1983 and now has seven colleges across the UK, Ireland and Germany, with Bristol alumni including singer George Ezra and members of rock band IDLES.
A BIMM spokesperson told Bristol24/7: “We have been consulting closely with staff members over the past three months, providing them with the opportunity to ask questions, comment on and make recommendations about any aspect of these changes. Crucially, there will be no reduction in teaching staff resulting from these changes.
“We care about our staff, lecturers and students deeply and we are doing everything we can to ensure any changes are implemented as carefully as possible, for all involved.”
The restructure is affecting staff at all seven of BIMM’s colleges across the UK, including that of Bristol’s
In autumn 2022, the organisation opened a new state-of-the-art campus with production space, a live music venue, two recording studios, and a DJ booth.
A protester added: “BIMM is about the people, not the building, so it seems ironic that it has opened this multi-million-pound development and is now getting rid of staff.”
“I’m really sad because it’s going to be different for students next year because I’ve learned so much.”
“It’s the best decision I ever made coming to study here and shape me in my confidence and self esteem as well as my artistic and technical practice.”
All photos & video: Betty Woolerton
Read next:
- Outrage as music college restructuring leads to job losses
- ‘It’s not your standard university’ – Inside the Bristol institute run by music professionals
- Demonstrators show support for Brazil indigenous people
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