British Council staff in Italy strike over proposed 80% workforce cut
The restructuring is driven by a severe funding crisis linked to a £197 million government loan taken during the pandemic, which incurs £14 million in annual interest and must be repaid by September.
Staff at the British Council in Italy have initiated strikes to protest proposed cuts that would reduce the workforce by approximately 80%, ending 80 years of English language teaching operations in the country. The restructuring is driven by a funding crisis linked to a £197 million government loan taken during the pandemic, which carries an annual interest of £14 million and must be repaid by September. Staff plan to protest at the British embassy in Rome, with further industrial action scheduled for 4 June. The organisation’s chief executive has previously warned of the institution's financial peril and potential disappearance within a decade.
Out of 130 teaching staff across Rome, Milan, and Naples, 108 are being targeted for redundancy. The British Council exams division is expected to continue under partners, and cultural events will remain. An internal consultation document lists 784 jobs “in scope” across the UK and Europe, with at least 404 roles expected to be “displaced” (15% of staff). Consultations are also taking place in France, Spain, and Portugal.
The Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) has accused the British government of masking a political choice behind an alleged corporate crisis. The loan was agreed under Boris Johnson’s Conservative government. The council’s three main income streams (teaching, exams, and development contracts) make up 85% of turnover, while FCDO grant-in-aid funding was £162m last year (15% of total income).
Chief Executive Scott McDonald told the foreign affairs select committee in October that the organisation was “nearly insolvent” and in “real financial peril” after 16 months of stalled negotiations with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). UK spending on development has decreased, and the absence of US development aid has reduced the number of development projects available for the council to win.
The British Council is a soft power institution founded in 1934, operating in about 100 countries to promote British culture and education. It conducts English language tuition for adults and children, as well as corporate and business classes. The organisation’s chief executive has previously warned of the institution's financial peril and potential disappearance within a decade.
