‘Out of touch’ university boss under fire for £30k pay rise
BUT EDUCATION CENTRE SAYS CHIEF IS PAID BELOW AVERAGE
THE vice-chancellor of the University of Bolton has been slammed for lacking ‘self-awareness’ after accepting a £30k pay rise.
University boss George Holmes took home £290,215 for the year to July 2017, according to financial statements released by the university – which says his pay is below average for the role.
For the previous financial year Mr Holmes was paid £260,500, showing the vice-chancellor has enjoyed a 11 per cent pay increase, including pension contributions and healthcare benefits.
Bolton University said Mr Holmes is paid below the national average for university vice-chancellors, which they say is around £313k.
The University Colleges Union general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “George Holmes has certainly made the headlines again this year, but not in a manner one would expect to be rewarded so handsomely for.
“The Bolton vice-chancellor has been rightly criticised previously for his embarrassing lack of selfawareness when it comes to his pay and accepting this huge increase will do nothing to combat the idea that vice-chancellors are utterly out of touch.
“It is particularly disappointing that Bolton took so long to release details of his pay package, especially when the university has been cited in previous years for a lack of transparency when it comes to pay and perks.”
A statement from the university said: “The university, like other higher education institutions, each year publishes its audited financial statements. The statements are published irrespective of any request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
“Save for the nationally agreed pay award for all staff for 2017/18, there has been no increase in the salary, benefits and allowance in lieu of University’s pension contributions, of the vice-chancellor since September 2016.
“This pre-dates the active calls nationally for pay restraint.
“The university does not wish to comment on the pay decisions of other institutions.
“It remains the case, however, that the salary of its vice-chancellor is below the national average for vice-chancellors while the challenge of the role in a rapidly developing university and the performance of its vice-chancellor, is not.”