The Equality Challenge Unit was established by Universities UK and the Standing Conference of Principals in 2000. It is now seeking a new CEO (£100k), Chairman and Board prior to becoming a limited company. While most businesses entail some degree of financial risk, this company will have guaranteed funding until the end of 2010.

This is another great example of a waste of government money, even if its work of improving diversity in higher education is of value. Quite simply, if it is going to be a private company it should not require five years of financial life support from the government. If it can’t stand on its own two feet financially, surely it should be established as a charity like the Teaching Awards or even a Non-Departmental Public Body like the School Food Trust whose £15m in grant-aid funding will come from a single source, the DfES?

• www.ecu.ac.uk

• www.scop.ac.uk

• www.universitiesuk.ac.uk