S4C Restructuring
17-Apr-2012
Dear colleagues,
I have today announced details of S4C’s restructuring plans. This is part of the strategy put in place after the October 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review and consequent cuts in S4C’s budget.
An internal group has been looking at the structure over the last 6 months to ensure that we have an effective structure for moving forward. After considering the group’s recommendations along with various other reports written over the last year I have come up with a proposed structure which I believe is the most effective for moving forward. I expect that the proposed structure will evolve over time as we respond and react to changes in S4C’s funding. The proposal has been approved in principle by the S4C Authority.
The changes begin with the Management Team. It is proposed that the number of Directors on the Management Team be reduced from 7 to 4 and some of their responsibilities will change. These are the details:
Ian Jones Chief Executive
Kathryn Morris Director of Finance
Dafydd Rhys Director of Content
Garffild Lloyd Lewis Director of Communications, Marketing and Partnerships
Elin Morris Director of Corporate and Commercial
Phil Williams the Secretary of the S4C Authority will continue to attend meetings of the S4C Management Team as an observer.
As well as a reduction in the number of staff, the form and nature of some departments will change to improve communication and efficiency. This will mean that some staff will transfer to other departments.
By the completion of the proposed changes there will have been a substantial reduction in S4C staff levels since 2010. A voluntary redundancy scheme at the end of last year brought numbers down from 165 to 133 and it is proposed there will be a further net loss of 10 posts as a result of the planned restructure.
We will follow the correct procedure and are commencing a 30 day period of consultation. We will also consult with all staff who are likely to be affected, and with BECTU, before any final decisions are made. Some posts will be redefined and some new posts will be advertised in due course.
The proposed changes in the main affect the structure of the Content Department which from now on will incorporate content management, digital media, presentation and on-screen promotion, planning and research as well as commissioning. The Communications Department will be responsible for all elements of communications across S4C’s services and will incorporate Corporate Communications and take responsibility for Partnerships. Business and commercial matters will reside under the Department of Corporate and Commercial.
We have also been looking at the benefits provided to staff. The Management Team have volunteered to give up their right to company cars from September and membership of the private health scheme from the end of the year. In order to further save costs membership of the private health care scheme will come to an end for all staff at the end of the year.
The restructuring is the start of a process to prepare S4C for a future full of change and challenge – a process which is likely to evolve over the months and years ahead.
I am aware that the next few months are going to be difficult here at S4C and for our external partners. You are welcome to contact myself or one of the Directors if you have any further questions or concerns regarding the proposed changes.
Ian Jones
Chief Executive S4C
17 April 2012