English Heritage Lead Official Resigns Following Suggestion of Drastic Employment Reductions
In a significant shift, English Heritage, the UK's heritage protection and promotion organisation, has implemented a series of cost-cutting measures under the leadership of its outgoing chief executive, Nick Merriman. Merriman, who has resigned for personal reasons linked to family health, oversaw a restructuring that saw the charity's workforce reduced by approximately 7%, equivalent to around 189 positions from the 2,535-strong staff.
Part of the overhaul includes slashing opening hours across its 400 sites by 10 percent, a move aimed at reducing operational costs. The sites managed by English Heritage, which include iconic landmarks such as Stonehenge, Hadrian's Wall, and Dover Castle, will be affected by these changes.
The cost-cutting measures are a response to financial pressures facing English Heritage. The charity, which no longer receives regular funding from the UK government's Department of Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), is operating in a challenging environment marked by high inflation and rising conservation costs. As a result, English Heritage faced a deficit of £14 million in 2023-24, which was described as a “planned reduction” supported by a government loan received in 2021.
The proposals aim to ensure financial resilience for English Heritage and allow it to continue fulfilling its charitable purposes. Despite the job cuts and reduced public access hours, the charity plans to avoid redundancies while maintaining a team of more than 75 curators, historians, and conservators.
The charity's annual 2023-24 review showed that it is operating at a loss, with its income totaling £141.4 million ($191 million), against £155.5 million ($213 million) in expenditure. No new information about site closures or reduced opening hours was provided in the statement.
Geoff Parkin will step into the role on an interim basis following Merriman's departure. The statement indicates that English Heritage is facing challenges similar to other organisations, and the proposals are intended to allow the charity to navigate these challenges and secure its future.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025, June 1). English Heritage to cut staff numbers and opening hours. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-57061084 [3] The Guardian. (2025, June 1). English Heritage to cut workforce and opening hours as it faces financial challenges. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/01/english-heritage-to-cut-workforce-and-opening-hours-as-it-faces-financial-challenges
- In the face of financial pressures, the curators, historians, and conservators at English Heritage are working to ensure the financial resilience of the art collection, as part of the charity's broader business strategy.
- The recent changes at English Heritage, including the reduction in staff and opening hours, have raised questions in the general-news and political spheres about the long-term implications for the preservation of the country's cultural heritage and art exhibition sites.
- Despite the cost-cutting measures, English Heritage's finance department continues to work closely with the business sector to secure funding for upcoming art exhibitions and conservation projects.
- As the new interim chief executive, Geoff Parkin will be tasked with navigating the complex and challenging economic environment, ensuring the continued promotion and preservation of England's rich art and cultural history.
