Vice-Chancellor announces plans to retire from University

The University of Wolverhampton’s Vice-Chancellor Geoff Layer is to retire from his role after 10 successful years at the helm.

Professor Geoff Layer will retire at Easter to give the University time to appoint a successor and ensure a smooth transition.

During his time at Wolverhampton, Geoff has led the creation of the new £120m Springfield Campus, Europe’s largest university centre of construction excellence; the £9 million Midlands Centre for Cyber Security in Hereford; the creation of advanced engineering facilities at the Telford  Innovation Campus and the transformation of healthcare facilities across the University’s campuses.

Geoff said: “It has been a privilege to be Vice-Chancellor of this University and I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved over the last decade. By placing students at the heart of everything we do and transforming the life chances of our graduates, we have become renowned as the University of Opportunity. We are a university of and for our region and this is really important in terms of our mission and values. Having launched our new strategic plan, Vision 2030, the timing feels right to step back as the University moves into a new phase.

“The University’s role within our region has never been stronger, and the recent recognition in the Knowledge Exchange Framework that we are in the top 10% nationally for public and community engagement and  the top 10% for local growth and regeneration is clear indication of our position as a catalyst for improvement. There are many significant projects to mention over the last 10 years, including the transformation of our specialist health training facilities across our campuses, the creation of advanced engineering facilities, a new business school and the redevelopment of our social and learning spaces. The transformation of the derelict former Springfield brewery into a £120m construction super campus is a particular highlight.

“What makes Wolverhampton special though is its people – and I want to thank our students, staff, graduates and partners for their ideas, creativity and commitment over the last 10 years, but in particular during the last 15 months. We have all faced huge personal and professional challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, and I am grateful for the way our whole community responded and evolved.”

Ben Reid OBE, Chair of the University’s Board of Governors, said: “I would like to thank Geoff for his significant contribution to the University of Wolverhampton over the last decade. The University has gone from strength to strength during this time, and we would like to recognise his leadership and commitment to the institution and its values.

“Geoff will be leaving the University in a strong financial position and with a clear strategy for the future in Vision 2030. He will retire from the University at Easter 2022 to allow time for the appointment of his successor and transition.”

The Rt Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone, Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, said: “I would like to thank Geoff for his dedication to the University of Wolverhampton during his time as Vice-Chancellor. I have been Chancellor of the University for 21 years, and Geoff is the third Vice-Chancellor during this time. It has been a pleasure to work with Geoff and to watch the University grow and develop under his leadership.”

Biography

Professor Geoff Layer joined the University in August 2011 from the University of Bradford where he was Pro Vice-Chancellor and then Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). 

Geoff has always been active regionally, nationally and internationally. On a national level, Geoff is the Chair of the Disabled Students’ Commission. Geoff is also currently Chair of the Student Loans Company Stakeholder Forum, a Trustee of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning, a Trustee of the Worker's Educational Association (WEA), a Director of Advance HE and Chair of the Advance HE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Previously he was a member of the QAA's Degree Awarding Powers Committee.

Regionally Geoff is a Director of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, Vice-President of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chair of Universities West Midlands (UWM), Director of the West Midlands Growth Company, a governor for the Telford College Corporation.

Between 2000 and 2006 he was the Director of Action on Access, an agency established to advise HEFCE on its Widening Participation Strategy.  He has been a consultant to Universities UK, Higher Education Quality Council and many universities in Widening Participation and Learning and Teaching Strategies.  He was also Director of the HEFCE Innovations Co-ordination Team from 2000-2002 and has researched and published widely on Inclusive Education.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of Leeds College of Music and was awarded the OBE for services to Higher Education in 2003.

He was educated in the North East of England and in Soham, Cambridgeshire.  He is a Sunderland supporter and plays cricket for Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club. 

For more information about the University, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk

ENDS