OfS sanction another 'nail in the coffin' for Leeds Trinity management? asks 瓜神网

The , published last week, fines the university for failures of management and governance. The report follows 瓜神网 repeatedly raising very serious concerns about admissions arrangements and the lack of oversight of academic standards and practices within franchised provision and the work of franchise partners. Many 瓜神网 members raised concerns but management failed to act, a cloud of secrecy developed and issues were swept under the carpet. 瓜神网 locally say the situation has led to a toxic culture with many staff feeling bullied and pushed out.  

Its published financial statements show that in July 2022 franchise income was 拢13.6 million and that by July 2024 this had risen to 拢21.3million. In the July 2021 accounts franchise income was not even shown separately.  The rapid increase in this income in such a short period of time has enabled the leadership to make a series of poor spending decisions. In January 2024 it spent 拢32,697 on a gold plate ceremonial mace. It also committed to and began the development of a new city centre campus which opened in September 2024 and cost in excess of 拢17million. Given the curbs that have now been placed on the university by the OfS and the increasingly competitive recruitment environment 瓜神网 believes the new building is not needed and will be a further strain on the university's balance sheet. The dysfunctional operating environment has seen some senior managers almost disappear overnight. The most recent published accounts for July 2024 show severance payments to 11 staff totalling 拢275,832.   

Julie Kelley, 瓜神网 Yorkshire and Humberside regional official said: 'University leadership treated its franchise provision like the golden goose, wasting money on trinkets like a 拢32k gold plated mace. But now chickens have come home to roost the university is rapidly reducing its cost base and staff are paying the price with their jobs. During the first few months of 2025 60 staff left on voluntary redundancy arrangements and 瓜神网 has now been told that another 拢3.5 million of staff savings is needed and voluntary redundancy is open again. The situation remains uncertain if the 拢3.5 million savings target is not reached. 

'瓜神网 members are furious that there has been a callous disregard for the future sustainability of the university and that poor strategic planning and lack of oversight has jeopardised its reputation and the job security of its 700 staff.'    

瓜神网 general secretary Jo Grady said: 'In 2021 when Charles Egbu was appointed VC his total package was 拢171,606 by July 2024 it had risen to an eye watering 拢257,832.  Given the multiple failures on his watch, this damning OfS report raises serious questions about governance arrangements and should be another nail in the coffin of the senior leadership.'