Vice chancellor no longer employed by University of Greater Manchester

According to an email sent out to university staff and seen by The Bolton News, as of Wednesday, August 5, Professor George E Holmes is no longer a University of Greater Manchester employee.

Professor Holmes was suspended by the Deane Road-based university, formerly the University of Bolton, in May 2025 alongside Provost Zubair Hanslot and another senior member of staff.

The suspension came in the wake of serious allegations being made about the university’s financial affairs.

The email said: “I am emailing today to inform you that Dr George Holmes’ contract as Vice Chancellor has been ended by the Governing Body of the University.

The university was previously known as the University of Bolton (Image: Phil Taylor)

“Dr Holmes is therefore no longer an employee of the University.

“Dr Greg Walker remains in post as the Acting Vice Chancellor and Interim Accountable Officer of the University.

“The Governing Body will meet in due course to consider the process and timelines for appointing a permanent head of the institution.”

Professor Holmes was suspended after an investigation by PriceWaterhouseCoopers into allegations made about the university that surfaced earlier in 2025.

In July this year, three people were arrested as part of a police investigation into “money laundering, fraud and bribery” centring around the university.

Two men, both in their 60s, and a woman in her 50s were arrested after police carried out a string of raids in Bolton, West Yorkshire, Humberside, and Lancashire.

Officers said on Wednesday they had been arrested as part of their investigation into “alleged financial irregularities” at the University of Greater Manchester, formerly Bolton, between 2014 and 2025.

All three had been arrested on suspicion of money laundering, while the two men were also arrested on suspicion of fraud, with one of them further arrested on suspicion of bribery.

They have all been released on bail and no one has yet been charged.

Bolton West MP Phil Brickell said: “Now that we know that George Holmes is no longer the vice chancellor of the university, it is now vital that the institution focuses on restoring confidence, ensuring strong governance, and maintaining its commitment to students, staff and the wider community.

“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.”

A University of Greater Manchester spokesperson confirmed that Professor Holmes is no longer employed by the institution.

They said: “Dr George Holmes’s contract as Vice Chancellor was ended by the Governing Body of the University earlier this week.

“The staff and students of the University have been informed of developments.

“Dr Greg Walker remains in post as Acting Vice Chancellor.

“The Governing Body of the University will meet in due course to consider the process and timelines for appointing a permanent head of the institution.”