The chief executive of the National Trust for Scotland has insisted a radical overhaul of the charity – which could result in the loss of 140 jobs – is necessary to keep it “relevant”.
Simon Skinner admitted staff felt “threatened” by the spectre of losing their jobs, but insisted the heritage group “doesn’t have the option of doing nothing”.
The NTS is facing a backlash from the Prospect Union, who has branded the restructuring a “devastating blow”.
The move is part of the organisation’s strategy to widen its appeal and generate more income for conservation, and is estimated to release savings of £4million a year for reinvesting in its operations.
Under the plans, there will be an overall reduction in staff numbers, mainly at the Edinburgh base, with 142 posts classified as “at risk”.
But Mr Skinner said plummeting visitor numbers and a multi-million pound backlog of conservation projects meant the trust had to reform.
He said: “The trust has been positioned as being in a stable financial position. At the moment, we are able to square the circle, but much of that is legacy income.
“We have had good growth in membership but the membership demographic hasn’t changed – it is still very much younger families and older people.
“Our figures show that members take just around one visit per year. 250,000 fewer people visit our properties compared to 10 years ago.
“The question for me is, how do we make ourselves more relevant? How do we get people back?
“We don’t have the option of doing nothing.”
The NTS, which works to conserve and promote Scotland’s treasured places and collections, currently has 540 full-time and 750 seasonal staff.
As well as the job losses at its Edinburgh headquarters, the charity said the plans will create 68 new posts across Scotland while about 42 posts will be transferred from their headquarters to be based alongside the properties it manages.
Mr Skinner said a more hands-on approach would both boost the charity’s finances and make visiting properties more enjoyable.
Some of the buildings lined up for additional investment include Brodie Castle near Forres, Culzean Castle and Country Park in South Ayrshire and Newhailes House in Musselburgh, East Lothian.
Mr Skinner said: “We plan to put £17million into key properties. If we can get people to visit more than once – to buy something at a shop, to have a cup of coffee – it all adds up.
“We should be making places fun.
“Another key area is our conservation backlog, which is about £47million. With these changes, if you work at the properties, it’s a good news story.
“But I’m fully aware that the staff at headquarters feel quite threatened.”
Prospect has welcomed the commitment not to cut jobs at property locations but said it fears the removal of vital central functions will lead to difficulties.
The union said it will now work to minimise compulsory redundancies.
