British Heritage CEO Bristend Conservation Charity only joined his role in early 2024.
British Heritage said in a statement that Nick Merriman resigned for personal reasons related to family health. Geoff Parkin will now play a role in the interim.
Merriman’s rule was not without tension. He oversaw the restructuring of the charity and proposed a 7% reduction in the workforce of its 2,535 employees (189 jobs). The charity said it will aim to avoid layoffs while maintaining a team of 75 curators, historians and protectors. He also plans to cut open hours of its 400 sites by 10% during a part of the overhaul. Agreed, 21 locations will be closed in winter, including castles and monasteries.
The organization reportedly began consultations with staff and their unions on the proposal, as part of a formal consulting period, which was not over before Merriman set out.
this guardian Some employees are “angry over cost cuts,” the report said. [Merriman’s] watch. ”
“It is regrettable that Nick has asked to resign as CEO for personal reasons related to family health. The board has agreed to his request and this will immediately work. The board thanks Nick for everything he has done.”
“High inflation increases the cost of conservation work in our locations, but if the conditions of the locations in our care continue to deteriorate, a substantial and ongoing expenditure is still required,” the charity said in a statement issued in January. Locations managed by British heritage include Stoneheng, Hadrian’s Wall and Dover Castle.
The charity became arrogant two years ago and said it no longer receives regular funds from the British government’s Ministry of Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) to preserve state-owned historic monuments and sites of the national heritage.
Its annual review for 2023-24 shows that the charity is losing money, with total revenue of £141.4 million ($191 million) and expenditure of £155.5 million ($213 million).
British Heritage said in a statement: “Like many organizations, we operate in a challenging environment, the purpose of these recommendations is to ensure that British Heritage is financially resilient and can achieve our charitable purposes.”
