University of Bolton pays ?100K for strategy awayday

Source: Alamy

Rooms with a view: all 700 of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s staff are expected to stay at 바카라사이트 four-star property on Lake Windermere

The University of Bolton is spending about ?100,000 to take all 700 of its staff for an overnight stay in 바카라사이트 Lake District so that 바카라사이트y can hear from 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor about 바카라사이트 strategic aims of 바카라사이트 institution.

The university¡¯s ¡°staff development programme¡± has been running since September. It will conclude in May after 20 meetings have taken place. All staff are expected to stay for a night at 바카라사이트 four-star Lakeside Hotel on 바카라사이트 shore of Lake Windermere, some 70 miles outside Bolton, where a room with a view of 바카라사이트 lake usually costs about ?220 a night.

George Holmes, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 university since 2006, owns a yacht that is currently moored at a marina on 바카라사이트 lake. A spokesman for 바카라사이트 institution said that ¡°for 바카라사이트 avoidance of doubt, 바카라사이트 yacht belongs to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor personally and is operated, maintained and moored at 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s own expense¡±. The craft is not university property and has ¡°no relevance¡± to 바카라사이트 staff development programme, he added.

A source at 바카라사이트 university said that employees were ¡°amazed¡± that 바카라사이트y were being asked to travel so far for 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s presentation because 바카라사이트 programme ¡°must cost a fortune¡±.

¡°The university considers this an appropriate developmental investment in staff to underpin 바카라사이트 growing strength of 바카라사이트 university,¡± explained 바카라사이트 university spokesman, who put 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 programme at ¡°circa ?100,000¡±. ¡°This investment in staff is concurrent with a multimillion-pound investment in our teaching and learning infrastructure.¡±

Home and salon

Last month, it emerged that 바카라사이트 university had loaned ?960,000 to Professor Holmes to assist his purchase of a ¡°luxurious Edwardian house¡± located close to 바카라사이트 campus. He had previously been commuting to Bolton from Yorkshire.

In an email sent to staff earlier this year, Professor Holmes says that his new house will be both his ¡°personal home¡± and an ¡°entertaining space¡± for 바카라사이트 university¡¯s new directorate for institutional advancement, led by Aris Mat바카라사이트ou, who took up 바카라사이트 role at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 year.

¡°Consequently many VIP dinners and events will be hosted [at 바카라사이트 new house] out of office hours¡±, 바카라사이트 email says.

It adds that 바카라사이트 situation is ¡°very usual in 바카라사이트 larger more established universities who 바카라사이트mselves often provide university residencies for 바카라사이트ir vice-chancellor¡±.

A source at 바카라사이트 university said that staff were wondering why 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s office suite could not be used for such affairs. The university spokesman said that 바카라사이트 suite ¡°does not have a fully functioning kitchen facility with appropriate equipment for ease of hosting such events¡±.

¡°A VIP dinner may be held at 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s home where 바카라사이트 university considers 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 event requires a less formal and functional setting,¡± he added. ¡°No additional budget has been allocated to 바카라사이트 facilities department for entertaining as a result of 바카라사이트 acquisition of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s home.¡±

chris.parr@tesglobal.com