National Trust to cut 550 jobs after Budget pushes up costs

The National Trust has announced plans to cut 6% of its current workforce, about 550 jobs, blaming an inflated pay bill and tax rises introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The heritage and conservation charity said it was under “sustained cost pressures beyond our control”.

These include the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage rise from April, which the National Trust said had driven up annual wage costs by more than £10m.

The cost-cutting measures are part of a plan to find £26m worth of savings.

A 45-day consultation period with staff began on Thursday and the Trust said they were working with the union Prospect “to minimise compulsory redundancies”.

The charity is running a voluntary redundancy scheme, and is expecting that to significantly reduce compulsory redundancies, a spokeswoman said.

The job cuts will affect all staff from management down, and everyone whose job is at risk will be offered a suitable alternative where available, the spokeswoman added.

Following consultations, which will finish in mid-to-late August, the cuts will be made in the autumn.

The Trust currently has about 9,500 employees.