The National Trust plans to axe 1,200 paid staff to save £100million after coronavirus forced it to shut historic sites

  • The National Trust has lost almost £200million since the start of the pandemic
  • It proposes to cut a fifth of its annual spend including £60million in wages
  • The charity has already saved by furloughing some of its 9,500 workers

By Daily Mail Reporter For The Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

The National Trust is planning to make 1,200 staff redundant as it seeks to save £100million.

The struggling charity has lost almost £200million after the Covid-19 crisis forced it to shut historic sites.

It has already saved millions through furloughing staff, but now it has proposed cuts of £100million, equivalent to almost a fifth of its annual spend.

Some 1,200 of its 9,500 salaried staff face redundancy to save £60million in wages. The move would bring staffing levels back to what they were in 2016.

The National Trust is planning to make 1,200 staff redundant as it seeks to save £100million after coronavirus forced it to shut historic sites (stock photo)

The National Trust is planning to make 1,200 staff redundant as it seeks to save £100million after coronavirus forced it to shut historic sites (stock photo)

The plans also include £8.8million savings by cutting the budget for hourly paid staff such as seasonal workers by a third. 

The remaining £40million of savings will be made in areas such as reducing travel and office costs and IT spending and cutting marketing and print spending in favour of digital communications.

The trust has already announced it is stopping or deferring £124million of projects this year.

Director general Hilary McGrady said: ‘It is deeply upsetting to face losing colleagues and we are committed to supporting all those affected. 

'Sadly, we have no other course of action left open. In making these changes now, I am confident we will be well- placed to face the challenges ahead.’

Meanwhile, a survey has revealed that the number of hours worked in Britain dropped significantly during lockdown. 

Mothers, especially those with younger children, were most likely to have to stop work to provide childcare.

A University College London survey has revealed that the number of hours worked in Britain dropped significantly during lockdown

A University College London survey has revealed that the number of hours worked in Britain dropped significantly during lockdown

Survey data suggests hours worked fell by 40 per cent. For those aged 30, for example, the number of hours worked in a week fell from an average of 34 to 22 hours.

The findings come from an online survey of more than 18,000.

Professor Francis Green, co-author of the University College London study, said: ‘The worst effects have been avoided for many families by the furlough scheme, and some have saved on commuting and leisure expenses. 

'But those who were struggling before the pandemic were most likely to have come into greater difficulties.’

National TrustCovid-19

Most watched News videos