The University of Greater Manchester’s embattled vice-chancellor, Sir George Holmes, has had his contract terminated by the university’s governing body, ending a period of uncertainty over the university’s leadership. Staff and students were informed on Wednesday afternoon that Holmes was no longer employed by the institution, previously known as the University of Bolton.
Contract ended after suspension
Holmes, who had led the university for two decades, was suspended in May last year following allegations of financial mismanagement and other misconduct. An email to staff stated: “Dr George Holmes’s contract as vice-chancellor has been ended by the governing body of the university. Dr Holmes is therefore no longer an employee of the university.”
His position had come under pressure after a series of investigations published by Manchester’s the Mill, which revealed allegations from whistleblowers involving bullying, racism, and fraud. In response, Holmes said he was determined to clear his name and hold the university’s current management to account.
Holmes calls decision a travesty
Holmes, 65, said: “The decision of the university’s governing board to terminate my contract in this way after over 20 years of loyal service to the University of Greater Manchester is a travesty. I have been denied natural justice, due process and the right to be presumed innocent of all that I have been accused of.”
A spokesperson for the university confirmed that Holmes’s employment had been ended earlier this week. The development was welcomed by Phil Brickell, MP for Bolton West, who had called for a resolution to protect the university during the autumn student recruitment period.
MP calls for focus on stability
Brickell said: “Now that we know that George Holmes is no longer the vice-chancellor of the university, it is vital that the institution focuses on restoring confidence, ensuring strong governance and maintaining its commitment to students, staff and the wider community. There is an ongoing police investigation but once concluded the university should seek to draw a line under this affair, learn any lessons arising from it and move forward in a way that delivers the best outcomes for its staff, students and the people of Bolton. Stability, transparency and a clear focus on educational excellence will be essential in the period ahead.”
The university said the current acting vice-chancellor, Greg Walker, would remain in place, and the governing body would “meet in due course to consider the process and timelines for appointing a permanent head of the institution”.
Ongoing police investigation
Last year, Greater Manchester police (GMP) said detectives and investigators from its major incident team had been looking into “suspected fraud and bribery” relating to the case, searching seven properties in Greater Manchester and the south of England to seize evidence. In July this year, three people were arrested as part of the investigation, with GMP saying it was “exploring evidence” of more than £1m in alleged fraudulent activity between 2014 and 2025 involving 60 transactions and more than 1m emails.
GMP carried out arrest warrants at two addresses in Bolton and three others in Lancashire, Humberside and West Yorkshire, arresting two men in their 60s and a woman in her 50s. All three were arrested on suspicion of money laundering, while both men were also arrested on suspicion of fraud and one of them on suspicion of bribery. The three people arrested have been released on bail without being charged.
