BBC Jam Staff Let Go On Closure

Liz Cleaver, BBC Controller of BBC Learning, has confirmed in a meeting with staff that all posts in BBC Jam, the Corporation's online interactive learning service for 5 to 16-year-olds, will close as a result of the suspension of the service on 20 March, following a decision by the BBC Trust.
The closures follow the BBC Trust's request to BBC management to close down activity on BBC Jam as soon as possible, except that which is necessary to prepare a fresh proposition to deliver learning to children.
There are around 200 post closures. Many of those previously working in BBC Jam teams in London, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast have already left and others may be redeployed.
All project-related contracts are ending (some prematurely) as a result of the suspension of the service.
At the same time, Ms Cleaver announced a reorganisation of the BBC's Formal Learning department, so that it reflected BBC Vision's wider multi-platform commissioning structure, and said that 13 new posts would be created as a result.
Following the termination of freelance and project-related contracts and the effect of the restructure, the net loss of jobs is expected to be 31, of which 25 are in London.
Liz Cleaver said: "I recognise that the past few weeks have been stressful for everyone involved in Jam following the suspension of the service in March, and commend staff for their patience and professionalism.
"We have tried as hard as possible to minimise the number of post closures when making changes to staff numbers and, in particular, to avoid compulsory redundancy by seeking volunteers or redeploying staff.
"In light of the suspension of BBC Jam, and in order to better deliver multi-platform content, we have decided to take the opportunity to align our structure in Learning with BBC Vision's wider multi-platform commissioning structure."
Today's meeting with staff and announcement follows consultation with the unions (Bectu and NUJ), and talks with both staff and unions are ongoing.
BBC Learning is preparing a fresh proposition which it aims to submit to the BBC Trust by the summer and which will subsequently undergo a Public Value Test (PVT).
(SP)