Prospect, the only recognised union in the Scottish conservation organisation, has expressed serious disappointment at the news. The proposed cuts would affect front line staff.

Initial information from the Trust indicates that ‘property managers’ may be removed from the organisation’s structure and replaced with ‘visitor service managers’.

There are concerns about any changes that would lead to staff doing the same job, day to day, for less money.

Prospect negotiations officer Ian Perth said: “At the beginning in of these changes in 2016, CEO Simon Skinner clearly outlined that the Trust had no intention to cut numbers at properties; and this gave comfort to our members and their families.  This announcement risks eroding the trust staff can have in the pronouncements of senior management.   

“For many, the National Trust for Scotland are far more than just an ‘organisation’, it’s properties are often woven into the fabric of rural communities, so any staff reductions in  front line properties could be devastating for the economies of local communities.

“Our members are concerned that the Trust is increasingly run with a ‘for profit’ business like mentality, and while we respect there are financial imperatives for all organisations; it should not be to the detriment of its core charitable aims and the communities they serve.’’