VisitBritain to lay off up to 30% of workforce
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VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, is to cut its staff work force by up to 30 percent, in response to budget cuts by the coalition government. Up to 70 posts in areas such as finance, IT, HR and communications will face the axe, in a bid to address the 34 percent cut to VisitBritain’s budget announced in October last year. Other changes will include reducing functions, activity and the numbers of international markets in which VisitBritain has a presence. “This proposed new structure and focus reflects our priorities and is in line with our four-year funding settlement,” said Sandie Dawe the organisation’s CEO. “Our goal is to maximise the tourism opportunities of hosting a raft of major iconic events over the next two years. We need to ensure that this clarity of focus is supported by the right structure and skills.” In other moves, VisitBritain will also reduce its level of business tourism activity and cut overheads overseas by reducing its presence from 35 markets to 21 overseas markets, based in 24 key cities. Meanwhile, the agency’s lease on Lower Regent Street for the Britain and London Visitor Centre will expire in 2012 and will not be renewed. “These proposed changes will lead to an overall reduction of between 25-30 percent posts - around 70 posts,” read a statement from VisitBritain. “Staff consultation is underway. The final outcome should be clear by the end of April.”
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