UCU says OfS report may be ‘nail in coffin’ for Leeds Trinity senior team

The University and College Union (UCU) has said the latest Office for Students (OfS) report should be a “nail in the coffin” for the senior management team of Leeds Trinity University.Last week’s OfS report fined the university for failures of management and governance, and comes as UCU “repeatedly raised very serious concerns” about admissions arrangements and a “lack of oversight” of academic standards and practices within franchised provision and the work of franchise partners. 

The union said many of its members raised concerns but management “failed to act, a cloud of secrecy developed and issues were swept under the carpet”. 

Its published financial statements show that in July 2022, franchise income was £13.6m and that by July 2024 this had risen to £21.3m.

UCU said 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, and has also started the development of a new city centre campus due to open in September 2025, costing in excess of £17m. 

Following curbs that have now been placed on the university by the OfS and the “increasingly competitive” recruitment environment, UCU said it believes the new building is not needed and will be a “further strain” on the university’s balance sheet. 

According to the union, the operating environment has seen some senior managers “almost disappear overnight”, with the most recent published accounts showing 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 £3.5m of staff savings is needed and voluntary redundancy is open again. The situation remains uncertain if the £3.5m savings target is not reached.”

She added: “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.”