OfS sanction another "nail in the coffin" for Leeds Trinity management? asks UCU

The OfS report , published last week, fines the university for failures of management and governance. The report follows UCU 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 UCU members raised concerns but management failed to act, a cloud of secrecy developed and issues were swept under the carpet. UCU 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 £13.6 million and that by July 2024 this had risen to £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 £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 £17million. Given the curbs that have now been placed on the university by the OfS and the increasingly competitive recruitment environment UCU 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 £275,832.   

Julie Kelley, UCU Yorkshire and Humberside regional official said: 'University leadership treated its franchise provision like the golden goose, wasting money on trinkets like a £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 UCU has now been told that another £3.5 million of staff savings is needed and voluntary redundancy is open again. The situation remains uncertain if the £3.5 million savings target is not reached. 

'UCU 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.'    

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'In 2021 when Charles Egbu was appointed VC his total package was £171,606 by July 2024 it had risen to an eye watering £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."