Offered job but complete silence from employer/HR

[SagaN4]

I received a conditional job offer from a UK university on 8th April. The email stated the employment particulars including a start date and that a contract would be sent in the next 48 hours. I have received nothing since. I've emailed and phoned the recruitment department in HR, but can't get through to anyone.

I get they may be waiting on references to come back or have staff off sick etc., but AIBU in thinking that I should just start looking for something else? Surely they'd let me know if they'd found someone else for the role? It's my first professional position so I'm just worried it's not going to come to anything...

Keep trying, I'm guessing they've been on Easter holidays?

Yes, holidays I expect.

Yep I bet most are on term time contracts so don't work in Easter?

I would keep trying to chase them. I work in a university and the majority of professional support staff are not term time only and are there throughout holiday periods (inluding Easter) unless they have booked annual leave. We always have someone in every department all year round, with the exception of Christmas, they would never 'close'.