Jobs threat at naval museum
Charity struggles to cope financially
DOZENS of staff at the National Museum of the Royal Navy have been told they face redundancy as the charity struggles to cope with a huge slump in cash.
The heritage organisation closed all its sites during the coronavirus pandemic, creating a £6.25m black hole in its finances.
The charity dodged filing for insolvency last month after chancellor Rishi Sunak agreed a £5.3m bailout from the treasury’s coffers.
But despite the support from the government, the museum said it was still battling to recover from losing out on ‘60 per cent’ of its annual admissions income.
And after exhausting every other possibility, staff were today told that 82 roles were now at risk of being made redundant across the charity’s bases nationwide, which includes sites in Portsmouth and Gosport.
A spokeswoman for the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) said: ‘It is with deep regret that the NMRN is announcing that today we have started a consultation on proposed redundancies and restructuring.
‘The restructuring proposals include a reduction of 32 full-time equivalents out of the full complement of 234, with 82 roles initially placed at risk of redundancy.
‘Other changes to terms and conditions are proposed; final decisions will be made once the consultation is complete.’
Since reopening, ticket sales have struggled to reach half of those sold during the same period last year.
The museum said trading from its shops and cafés had also been ‘significantly affected’ and warned the autumn and winter period would ‘not generate sufficient income to recover lost ground even in a normal year’. Bosses said the recovery of visitor numbers would likely to stretch ‘well into 2022’, which has prompted the new emergency measures.
The situation has come as a bitter blow to Professor Dominic Tweddle, directorgeneral of the museum.
He said: ‘The hard work and commitment of all staff, as well as the emergency financial support from the Royal Navy in 2020/21, has meant that we have been able to re-open and successfully welcome back visitors.
‘The dedication and sheer bloody-mindedness of the staff team and key partners has also meant that despite being closed we have delivered a number of key projects, LCT 7074, the walkway under HMS Victory, the soon to be launched Diving Deep exhibition telling the tale of HMS
Invincible and the partnership with the Mary Rose Trust.
‘I am unbelievably proud of what has been achieved over these last six months and therefore unbelievably sad that this day has arrived.’
The NMRN runs Portsmouth Historic Dockyards as well as sites in Gosport, Yeovilton and Hartlepool.
The organisation has not yet revealed how many jobs will be lost at each location.
Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt, Portsmouth North MP, said she – alongside Gosport MP and culture minister Caroline Dinenage – had battled to secure extra funding for Britain’s treasured heritage assets.
Ms Mordaunt added: ‘We have continued to make the case for funds to support our heritage assets, the Mary Rose being one example.
‘I understand why charities are having to make these sad changes at this unprecedented time. What is key is that our prized heritage is cared for until this ghastly period is behind us, and that if anyone is to lose their job we give them all the support they need to find a new role. These are tough times but we will get through this.’
As previously reported, about 85 per cent of the charity’s staff were placed on furlough during lockdown, with some returning to work last month.
Last month the NMRN and the Mary Rose Museum put an end to a bitter twoyear row over ticket prices to unite in a bid to support one another through the pandemic.