ALMOST 200 jobs are to go at the organisation which owns the Hill House in Helensburgh – but it’s not yet clear exactly what the impact will be on the town’s biggest tourist attraction.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has announced that there will be 188 compulsory redundancies, most of them seasonal, at its properties across the country.
That figure is less than half the 429 jobs the NTS said were at risk when it outlined the likely consequences of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year.
But the trust says it’s too soon to be certain how many jobs, if any, will go at the Hill House – and at nearby Geilston Garden in Cardross.
The NTS said in May that it expected to lose £28 million in visitor income as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, putting 19 of the 26 jobs at the Hill House, and three of the five posts at Geilston, at risk.
READ MORE: More than 20 NTS jobs at risk at Hill House and Geilston Garden
The Scottish Government announced last week that it was to provide a cash injection of £3.8 million to save jobs and reopen NTS properties earlier than planned.
That adds to nearly £2.5m donated by the public to an emergency appeal, and follows a formal consultation by the NTS on emergency measures it says were aimed at preventing the charity’s collapse.
A total of 60 posts will be saved across the Glasgow and west Scotland region from 161 that were originally placed at risk of redundancy.
Chief executive Phil Long OBE said: “While many of the affected posts are seasonal, and staff would have been finishing up for the year in a matter of weeks, we have modified our redundancy policy.
“If the situation improves sufficiently next year and we are able to recruit again, former staff can apply for posts after six months without having to repay their redundancy money.
READ MORE: NTS announces reopening date for Hill House as lockdown limits are eased
“It has been a tough and demanding year so far, but I am glad that we have been able to begin the return to some form of normality.
“As we re-open properties we have been very busy ensuring that they are safe places to visit as we abide by the government guidelines designed to ensure the wellbeing of our welcome visitors and our volunteers and staff who I would also like to thank for their immense hard work and fortitude during this deeply concerning time.”
Geilston Garden reopened on July 6, and the Hill House followed suit on Thursday, August 3.
However, advance booking for appointed times is essential for visitors to the Hill House due to social distancing requirements.
Click here to find out more about booking a time slot to visit the Hill House.
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