Royal Museums Greenwich consults on redundancies
Institution needs save £800,000 next year
Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) is carrying out an organisational review that could see it shed approximately 25 posts next year.
The institution has had its budget cut by 5% to £15.73m for 2015/16 and has seen its grant-in-aid from government fall 30% since 2010. The cut means the museum will have to find savings of £800,000 in the next financial year.
RMG comprises four sites, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory, the Queen's House and the Cutty Sark, and employs an average of 491 full time equivalent posts, according to its annual report for 2013-14.
According to Prospect, the union representing RMG employees, staff have been given the opportunity to volunteer for redundancy or early retirement as part of a consultation that closed last week.
The museum said that, in addition to making redundancies, it would seek to make savings and efficiencies elsewhere and increase its income as part of the restructure.
A spokeswoman from RMG said: “Like other areas of government, Royal Museums Greenwich is having to review its activities in the light of the wider economic circumstances, and continuing reduction in government funding. Grant-in-aid has been reduced by 30% since 2010, including 5% cut already announced for 2015-16.
“While great progress has been made in recent years with increasing self-generated revenues there continues a need for efficiency and business focus, therefore the museum is currently carrying out an organisational review.
“It is anticipated that targeted savings of about £800,000 will be found not only through voluntary redundancies, early retirement and an organisational review but also through general efficiencies, savings in non-staff budgets and identification of opportunities for further increases in non-grant income.
“By taking action now the museum is better able to manage the pressure on future budgets. It is intended that the new structure will be implemented for the beginning of the financial year.”
The institution has had its budget cut by 5% to £15.73m for 2015/16 and has seen its grant-in-aid from government fall 30% since 2010. The cut means the museum will have to find savings of £800,000 in the next financial year.
RMG comprises four sites, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory, the Queen's House and the Cutty Sark, and employs an average of 491 full time equivalent posts, according to its annual report for 2013-14.
According to Prospect, the union representing RMG employees, staff have been given the opportunity to volunteer for redundancy or early retirement as part of a consultation that closed last week.
The museum said that, in addition to making redundancies, it would seek to make savings and efficiencies elsewhere and increase its income as part of the restructure.
A spokeswoman from RMG said: “Like other areas of government, Royal Museums Greenwich is having to review its activities in the light of the wider economic circumstances, and continuing reduction in government funding. Grant-in-aid has been reduced by 30% since 2010, including 5% cut already announced for 2015-16.
“While great progress has been made in recent years with increasing self-generated revenues there continues a need for efficiency and business focus, therefore the museum is currently carrying out an organisational review.
“It is anticipated that targeted savings of about £800,000 will be found not only through voluntary redundancies, early retirement and an organisational review but also through general efficiencies, savings in non-staff budgets and identification of opportunities for further increases in non-grant income.
“By taking action now the museum is better able to manage the pressure on future budgets. It is intended that the new structure will be implemented for the beginning of the financial year.”