Bletchley Park to cut jobs after drop in visitors

Bletchley Park has announced plans to cut up to 18 posts after a fall in visitor numbers.

The museum occupies the former secret base near Milton Keynes where World War Two codebreakers, including Alan Turing, worked to crack German codes.

This week, Bletchley Park Trust's 105 employees were told of proposals to cut staffing costs by about 12%.

The trust said it has "experienced lower visitor numbers in a challenging economic environment" and had exhausted other cost-saving options.

Chief executive Iain Standen said: "This is a difficult decision because the strength of Bletchley Park has always been its people.

"We have worked hard to reduce costs and increase income without affecting our people, but we have now reached the point where further action is necessary.

"Acting now gives us the best opportunity to create a sustainable organisation for the future and to reduce the risk of having to make further significant changes in the years ahead."

As well as being a museum dedicated to World War Two codebreakers, the site also hosts exhibitions and events, including a 1940s-themed music festival later this month.

In 2023, world leaders and technology entrepreneurs, including then-prime minister Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk, visited the site for the first global AI Safety Summit.

The museum has also introduced new services, including private tours, with prices ranging from £750 to £2,500 for a group of six.

The trust said "significant new exhibitions" would open in 2028 and 2029 to strengthen the visitor experience.

Standen said: "Bletchley Park has an extraordinary past and an important future. Our responsibility is to protect both."

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