SCOTLAND'S largest conservation charity has backed a multi-million overhaul of its work in an effort to widen its appeal, but one which is expected to cost up to 90 jobs.
Trustees of the 350,000-member National Trust for Scotland unanimously agreed to a transformational programme of change after a formal three-month consultation period through which submissions were made by staff, volunteers and also the trust’s recognised trade union, Prospect.
It is claimed the changes will lead to the trust broadening its appeal, encouraging more people to visit and enjoy the heritage in its care, increasing membership and generating more income for investment in conservation.
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The Prospect union said concerns remain over the future running of the trust but it had made "significant changes" to earlier plans, which will mean £17m investment in conservation in Scotland, after consultation.
Simon Skinner, trust chief executive, said it is hoped as many as possible can find roles in the new structure.
He said: "We would like to thank everyone who responded to our proposals and who made such useful and thoughtful submissions.
“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.
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“More efficient ways of working will complement other sources of funding so that we can prioritise £17m of investment to make our properties better.
"We have already announced the first tranche of investment in Culzean Castle and Country Park totalling £2.5m 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 compulsory redundancy due to the changes but after consultation this was cut back considerably.
The trust said 73 posts were being created or retained and at risk staff are being given the opportunity to apply for posts under the revised structure.
Ian Perth, Prospect negotiator, said: "We remain concerned about the plans and the commercial direction of the charity, however it would be unfair not to note significant efforts made by the CEO (Mr Skinner) in recent weeks to reduce the level of compulsory redundancies."
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He said "following discussions they (compulsory redundancies) could be between 25 to 90 depending on staff appetite and abilities to fulfil newly created role".
"I think the trust would be wrong to spend charitable donations gathered from the public and NTS members on forcing loyal member of staff to leave on compulsory redundancy terms, and then make external appointments.
"There is an abundance of skills and experience amongst the 90 staff who remain at risk and we hope that the majority of those who want to stay can be accommodated.
"Every compulsory redundancy is devastating for the individual affected and we’ll be focused on supporting members through what will be a very difficult and uncertain number of weeks.’’
The overhaul is timetabled to be completed by summer 2017.
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