The National Trust has implemented a freeze on non-essential recruitment and paused certain projects due to a £10m rise in labour costs this year, caused by increased employment costs following last autumn’s budget. This increase is attributed to changes in employers’ national insurance contributions and a rise in the legal minimum wage, both of which will take effect next month. Despite these financial constraints, the charity, which oversees 500 historic sites, coastlines, and expanses of land, assures that visitors will not be affected or see changes in opening hours. The charity is still recruiting for essential roles and will pause projects without impacting public benefits or conservation urgency. These challenges come after the charity navigated a “culture war” and are compounded by a living cost crisis and high inflation rates. A National Trust spokesperson emphasized the importance of public support, including membership and donations, to continue their charitable work. This financial strain is not unique to the National Trust, as other top visitor attractions in the UK, such as the Tate and English Heritage, are also facing similar challenges, leading to job cuts and reduced investments. Despite a 3.4% increase in visitors to its sites, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) reports that the budget changes have significantly impacted planned surpluses and investment plans, potentially leading to cuts and job losses. Overseas visitor numbers are rising but are not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels for another year, while domestic visitors are becoming more cautious in their leisure spending due to the cost of living crisis.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/21/national-trust-freezes-recruitment-after-10m-jump-in-costs