Oxford University Press (OUP) has launched a consultation on significant organisational changes that could result in more than 100 job losses, according to industry reports.

The publishing house, part of the University of Oxford, confirmed it has entered a collective consultation process but did not specify the number of roles affected. However, The Bookseller reported it has seen internal documents indicating that up to 113 posts are at risk as the company responds to “difficult trading conditions” carried over from last year.

The publication said the planned restructuring would hit OUP’s Education and English Language Teaching (ELT) divisions the hardest, with additional reductions expected in operational support teams. A smaller number of roles in the Academic and Technology departments may also be affected. The outcome of the consultation is expected next month.

An OUP spokesperson said the organisation must continue adapting to changing market conditions:

“Like any organisation, we constantly adjust to developments within our markets. We have proposed some organisational changes affecting a small proportion of our workforce. We are working closely with colleagues impacted during the consultation period.”

Founded in the 16th century, OUP is the world’s largest university press. But in recent years the organisation has undergone substantial restructuring. Its final printing arm, Oxuniprint, closed in 2021 with the loss of 20 jobs, a move the company attributed to declining sales worsened by the pandemic. In 2022, its long-running Oxford High Street bookshop shut permanently after closing during the first Covid lockdown.

The publisher has also trimmed roles internationally. In September last year nearly 20 staff were made redundant in its US office, including the entire North America Design Team.

Despite these pressures, OUP has continued to pursue strategic growth. Earlier this month, it announced an agreement to acquire Karger Publishers, a Swiss-based medical and healthcare publisher with more than 100 journals.

OUP employs more than 5,000 staff worldwide and reported a turnover of £796 million for the 2024–25 financial year, though it acknowledged facing “a number of market challenges.” Photo by Jonas M, Wikimedia commons.