Staff slam 'dreadful' job cuts at Shugborough
Only eight workers are set to keep their jobs at the Shugborough Estate as National Trust bosses propose 'dreadful' cuts for when they take over the site later this year.
Employees who attended a meeting with trust bosses say they were told that senior managers are to be axed and dozens of workers will be replaced by volunteers.
As well as an army of volunteers, Shugborough currently employs 35 full-time workers and 52 seasonal workers but they have been told only eight of these roles will be retained.
Although new roles will be created at the estate which existing staff have been told they can apply for.
The changes would take place after Staffordshire County Council formally surrenders its lease to the trust at the end of October.
A worker who wished to remain anonymous said: "Staff were horrified, very angry, tearful and shocked to discover the extent of job losses and redundancies.
"Senior managers are to go, almost all front line staff are going to be replaced by volunteers who will know nothing about the place.
"Ticket office staff and many others are all to lose their roles.
"The new management model is no surprise as it would always have been very different from the county council one but the numbers and waste of talent, knowledge and skills is a total shock. Some staff have worked above and beyond their remit at the estate for more than twenty years.
"It was a hideous day.
"How on earth will the remaining staff stay cheerful and positive for this final season with the direct threat of redundancies looming over them? How will they respond to visitors questions when they visit? "It's dreadful."
Shugborough currently employs 35 full-time workers, 52 seasonal workers and has 115 volunteers on its books.
The trust said they could not comment on the specific claims by the worker or confirm how many staff are to be effected at this stage.
But Ben Shipston, assistant director, for operations, did say: "Staffordshire County Council's operating model at Shugborough has been losing at least £650,000 each year.
"To make the operation of the Shugborough Estate economically viable and sustainable the National Trust, as a conservation charity, will need to implement a different structure and operating model.
"We have looked at the existing staffing structure and compared this with our operating model at similar sized trust properties that are successful and have a proven track record.
"As part of the process there will be proposals for change which may directly affect individual posts, as well as posts which may change either in role, or line management. Throughout the process, the National Trust will take all reasonable steps to mitigate the impact of these changes, as well as looking at redeployment opportunities for those people affected. Any roles offered as an alternative to redundancy will be offered on National Trust terms and conditions.
"We acknowledge that these are significant changes being proposed, but they are deemed necessary in order to secure the future of Shugborough Estate."
