National Trust to Shed 550 Jobs Amid Rise in Employment Costs

The National Trust is to cut at least 550 jobs in an effort to save £26 million after changes made in Rachel Reeves's budget pushed up labour costs.

- Sarah Butler

The conservation charity, which looks after 500 historic houses, castles, parks and gardens in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said a rise of more than £10 million in the cost of employer's national insurance contributions (NICs) and the minimum wage in April had outstripped an increase in income from visitors.

"Although demand and support for our work are growing, with yearly increases in visitors and donations, increasing costs are outstripping this growth," it said in a statement.

The cuts will affect 6% of its 11,000-strong workforce, the equivalent of 550 full-time jobs. Staff were informed of the cuts in an online briefing on Thursday as a 45-day consultation began.

The cuts will affect frontline roles including staff working in cafes and shops, as well as conservation assistants who carry out preservation work in the trust's buildings.