The University of Greater Manchester has suspended its Vice Chancellor, Professor George Holmes, after an independent investigation uncovered a series of serious allegations. Holmes, who has held the role for 20 years, was suspended along with two senior academic staff.
The suspensions come in the wake of a report by The Mill, which detailed troubling practices at the university—formerly known as the University of Bolton. The university’s Fraud Response Panel subsequently commissioned a report to review these claims, leading to disciplinary action.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that an investigation is ongoing into potential financial irregularities within the institution. This comes after a review of allegations outlined in The Mill’s report and the university’s internal findings.
In March, Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, told Parliament that police and the Office for Students were reviewing serious accusations of racism, bullying, and financial misconduct at the university.
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Her remarks followed statements by Bolton West MP Phil Brickell, who said he had been contacted by whistleblowers concerned about unethical conduct at the school.
In a public statement, the university clarified that the suspensions were “precautionary” and “do not imply any assumption of guilt.” It added that these actions were taken to allow for “a fair and transparent process” during the ongoing proceedings.
“The university was made aware of the report’s findings following its investigation into serious allegations raised in the media and subsequently in Parliament,” the statement said.
The university declined to provide further details while internal procedures are active. In the interim, Dr. Greg Walker has been appointed as Acting Vice Chancellor and interim accountable officer.
In December, the school transitioned from the University of Bolton to the University of Greater Manchester after receiving regulatory approval from the OfS.
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