Jobs to be axed as National Museum of the Royal Navy reveals redundancy proposals

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.

HMS Victory recently opened the underneath of its hull to visitors for the first time in 100 years on 11 August 2020.
Picture: Habibur RahmanHMS Victory recently opened the underneath of its hull to visitors for the first time in 100 years on 11 August 2020.
Picture: Habibur Rahman
HMS Victory recently opened the underneath of its hull to visitors for the first time in 100 years on 11 August 2020. Picture: Habibur Rahman

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.

It’s understood that this includes 58 roles at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘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.

Professor Dominic Tweddle outside HMS Victory at Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth.
Picture : Habibur RahmanProfessor Dominic Tweddle outside HMS Victory at Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth.
Picture : Habibur Rahman
Professor Dominic Tweddle outside HMS Victory at Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth. Picture : Habibur Rahman

‘Other changes to terms and conditions are proposed; final decisions will be made once the consultation is complete.’

Read More
36 photos as 'utter prats' hold lockdown protest in Portsmouth

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’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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, director-general 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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.

Looking for the latest Royal Navy updates from Portsmouth? Join our new Royal Navy news Facebook group to keep up to date.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1877
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice