The National Trust has announced plans to cut at least 550 jobs—around 6% of its workforce—in a move to save £26 million, following sharp increases in employment costs triggered by Rachel Reeves’s first budget as Chancellor.
The renowned conservation charity, which oversees 500 historic houses, castles, parks, and gardens, said a rise of over £10 million in employer National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage from April has outpaced income from visitors and donors.
“Although we continue to see growing support through rising visitor numbers and donations, cost increases are exceeding that growth,” the charity said in an official statement.
The job cuts—announced in a staff briefing on Thursday—have now entered a 45-day consultation period, affecting mainly frontline roles such as café and shop staff, as well as conservation assistants who help preserve the UK’s historic buildings.
In addition to heritage sites, the National Trust manages 780 miles of coastline and 250,000 hectares of land. The charity stated that the redundancies were part of a strategic move to “prioritise the things people told us are important,” while safeguarding “what people value most about what we do.”
The Trust insists the restructuring will allow it to continue protecting the natural and historic environments of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in the long term.
However, concerns have been raised internally. One employee warned: “This will impact frontline quality at a time when the Trust is struggling with its image and societal relevance. How will this not affect the vital work our members support?”
The charity has pledged to work closely with the Prospect union to minimise the disruption. Steve Thomas, Prospect’s deputy general secretary, said the cuts would bring “huge uncertainty and worry” for staff during the busy summer season.
He added: “While we recognise the financial pressures, this situation has also been exacerbated by managerial choices. Our members are stewards of Britain’s cultural and environmental legacy—losing them means risking irreplaceable skills and knowledge.”
The National Trust had already frozen recruitment for non-essential roles in March, following the government’s announcement of increased employer contributions and wage legislation, which took effect in April.
This latest wave of cutbacks follows several difficult years for the Trust, including political controversy surrounding its stance on colonial history and diversity—prompting accusations of “wokeness” and scrutiny from Conservative ministers.
The job losses at the Trust mirror broader challenges across the UK’s heritage and cultural sectors. The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) recently warned that many member organisations are slashing jobs and scaling back investments due to government-driven cost hikes.
Visitor attractions across the country are also contending with more cautious domestic tourism habits, as families cut back on day trips and discretionary spending amid rising energy and food prices.
The Tate earlier this year announced plans to cut 7% of its staff due to a lingering financial shortfall from the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, English Heritage is preparing to make up to 200 redundancies, alongside winter closures at several of its historic sites including castles and abbeys.
