The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) writes:<\/p>\n
Trustees of Scotland\u2019s largest conservation charity, the 350,000-member National Trust for Scotland, have unanimously agreed to move forward with a transformational programme of change.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Trustees\u2019 decision follows a formal 90-day consultation period through which many submissions were made by staff, volunteers and the Trust\u2019s recognised trade union, Prospect.<\/p>\n
The Trust\u2019s Chief Executive, Simon Skinner, said:\u00a0 \u2018We would like to thank everyone who responded to our proposals and who made such useful and thoughtful submissions.\u00a0 In particular I welcome the constructive part that the Prospect union has played throughout the consultation.<\/p>\n
\u2018It 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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
\u2018More efficient ways of working will complement other sources of funding so that we can prioritise \u00a317 million of investment to make our properties better.\u00a0 We have already announced the first tranche of investment in Culzean Castle and Country Park totalling \u00a32.5 million and there is more to come.\u2019<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 there will be six regional groupings of built heritage properties and one nationwide grouping of natural heritage properties.<\/p>\n
In June it was proposed that 142 staff would be placed \u2018at risk\u2019 of redundancy due to the changes.\u00a0 As a result of consultation feedback, modifications have been made which mean that the number of staff placed \u2018at risk\u2019 of compulsory redundancy will be reduced to 90, with 73 posts being created or retained.\u00a0 \u2018At risk\u2019 staff are being given the opportunity to apply for new posts within the revised structure in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
Simon Skinner added: \u2018It 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.\u00a0 It will be a difficult time for some and we will offer as much support and help as we can.\u2019<\/p>\n
Implementation of the changes is underway and will be complete by the summer of 2017.<\/p>\n
View the press release<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Trustees of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) have agreed to progress a programme of what it has called \u2018tranformational change\u2019 with a \u2018new regional properties structure\u2019 where \u2018there will be six regional groupings of built heritage properties and … Continue reading