The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has just announced that the economic downturn leaves it facing a reduction in staffing level to save costs. With falling revenues in visitors, donors and memberships, it has to reduce its costs to ensure that the charity will be able to deliver on its plans for the future.

Staff were informed yesterday (5th March) that cost saving measures, including likely job losses, are required across the whole organisation.

As many reductions as possible are to be sought through natural wastage and a voluntary redundancy programme. However it is anticipated there may be in the region of 91 full time posts lost in 2009/10, with recruitment of new seasonal staff at the Trust’s properties put on hold whilst a reduction of overall seasonal hours is achieved.

A staff consultation period will begin next week and will include regular meetings with the relevant trade union, Prospect. The union has been kept fully informed about developments over the past weeks and months.

All parts of the charity will be streamlined, including changes to some loss-making properties. Summing up the Trust’s current challenges and the announcement of job losses, Chief Executive Kate Mavor said: ‘Like most organisations the Trust has been considerably affected by the recession and we accept we have to respond to the economic conditions by making these cost savings.

‘Inevitably this includes reducing our staffing levels and doing everything we can to ensure the charity is more efficient if we are to have a sustainable future.

‘Today’s proposed job losses are very regrettable but as staffing accounts for 50% of our operating expenditure, we must inevitably face the prospect of redundancies.

‘Whilst we have taken some very difficult decisions, we are convinced that this is the right thing to do to secure the long term viability of the Trust’.

For Argyll should have news later today on how some of the Trust’s properties will be affected.