Three-quarters of colleges in the UK have already furloughed staff or plan to do so, a new survey by the Association of Colleges reveals.

The research – shared exclusively with Tes – shows that 17 per cent of respondents had already furloughed, or will be furloughing, more than 100 staff. The survey also highlights the serious financial challenges colleges are going to face as a result of the coronavirus pandemic - with many fearing their financial health will deteriorate after a loss of income. 

Coronavirus: 13% of colleges fear their solvency is at risk

More: The state of remote FE teaching and learning revealed

Need to know: DfE publishes furlough guidance for FE

According to guidance published by the Department for Education in April, colleges can legally furlough staff if their public income has reduced or non-public income has ceased or reduced. 

However, the proportion of staff furloughed should not exceed the proportion of an institution's income that does not come from public sources.

Coronavirus: Colleges forced to put staff on furlough

Just under a quarter of respondents (24 per cent) furloughed between one and 20 members of staff – the largest proportion with the same answer for this question. Just one college has furloughed between 301 and 400 staff.

College leaders told the AoC that although many were furloughing some staff, they were also using other ways to reduce cost, including voluntary and compulsory redundancy schemes and savings around travel and teaching materials.

AoC chief executive David Hughes said: “Around three quarters of colleges are accessing the [job retention scheme], mainly in small numbers, to protect jobs. Colleges are being careful to adhere to the guidelines and ensure that there is no double-funding. Whilst the government has made good decisions to protect much of the college income, many colleges will still suffer from significant lost income from their commercial income for things like courses, fees, employer training, catering, residential and facility hire. It is right that they access furloughing in order to protect jobs affected by the crisis.”