The Trustees of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) have agreed to progress a programme of what it has called ‘tranformational change’ with a ‘new regional properties structure’ where ‘there will be six regional groupings of built heritage properties and one nationwide grouping of natural heritage properties’, with staff placed at risk of compulsory redundancy reduced to 90 from the 142 proposed in June.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) writes:
Trustees of Scotland’s largest conservation charity, the 350,000-member National Trust for Scotland, have unanimously agreed to move forward with a transformational programme of change.
The changes will lead to the Trust widening its appeal, encouraging more people to visit and enjoy the heritage in its care, increasing membership and generating more income for investment in conservation.
The Trustees’ decision follows a formal 90-day consultation period through which many submissions were made by staff, volunteers and the Trust’s recognised trade union, Prospect.
The Trust’s Chief Executive, Simon Skinner, said: ‘We would like to thank everyone who responded to our proposals and who made such useful and thoughtful submissions. In particular I welcome the constructive part that the Prospect union has played throughout the consultation.
‘It was clear that the need for change was fully endorsed and, as a result of the information and practical suggestions received, we have made changes to our proposals that enhance the programme we are now enacting. The changes allow us to retain a core staff of specialists, who will support conservation and visitor services at properties, enable us to bring in new skills and competencies that ensure we offer world-class experiences and deliver a new regional structure that puts the places we care for firmly at the centre of decision-making and planning.
‘More efficient ways of working will complement other sources of funding so that we can prioritise £17 million of investment to make our properties better. We have already announced the first tranche of investment in Culzean Castle and Country Park totalling £2.5 million and there is more to come.’
The changes see the Trust moving from seven directorates and departments down to four, with HQ functions streamlined to support a new regional properties structure – there will be six regional groupings of built heritage properties and one nationwide grouping of natural heritage properties.
In June it was proposed that 142 staff would be placed ‘at risk’ of redundancy due to the changes. As a result of consultation feedback, modifications have been made which mean that the number of staff placed ‘at risk’ of compulsory redundancy will be reduced to 90, with 73 posts being created or retained. ‘At risk’ staff are being given the opportunity to apply for new posts within the revised structure in the coming weeks.
Simon Skinner added: ‘It is inevitable that we will be losing some people through the changes but we hope that as many as possible can find roles in the new structure. It will be a difficult time for some and we will offer as much support and help as we can.’
Implementation of the changes is underway and will be complete by the summer of 2017.
View the press release
