National Trust to cut 550 jobs as costs 'increasingly tough'
It went on: "Although demand and support for our work are growing with yearly increases in visitors and donations; increasing costs are outstripping this growth.
Happy birthday to us! 130 today and still going strong 💪
A big thank you to everyone who is celebrating with us ♥️ pic.twitter.com/AwZYZwdaNO — National Trust (@nationaltrust) January 12, 2025
"Responding to this situation means making some internal changes to the organisation. Pay is the biggest part of our costs, and the recent employer's National Insurance increase and National Living Wage rise added more than £10m to our annual wage bill.
"We are proposing to reduce our pay bill and are beginning a 45-day consultation period with our staff in order to find savings of £26 million. The proposals would lead to an estimated 6% reduction in jobs."
The 130-year-old trust said in the statement this follows months of other cost-saving measures, as they are "prioritising the things people told us are important".
The statement concluded: "We'll still be caring for nature and heritage every day, as we have done for the last 130 years. The National Trust has existed for so long because it keeps adapting and planning for the long term.
"The proposed changes will allow us to keep on caring for and championing our shared historic and natural environment in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, long into the future."
This comes as the trust throws open its gates for families, with 175 National Trust places across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland putting on special activities.
Running throughout the school holidays, Summer of Play has been sponsored by Starling Bank, so prices are included with standard admission (and free for National Trust members).
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