Paradise lost? Jobs to go at Eden Project

Up to 70 jobs are to be cut at the Eden Project, the flagship UK social enterprise that usually attracts around a million visitors a year to its giant rainforest-filled greenhouses built in a former clay pit in Cornwall.

The organisation says it needs to slash its annual costs by £2m following a drop in visitor numbers in 2012, which it blames on the Olympics, poor weather and the recession.

In a letter seen by Pioneers Post, Eden’s chief executives Tim Smit and Gaynor Coley said: “An unholy alliance of a compelling Olympics and Paralympics (which conspired to keep people riveted to their seats and homes rather than coming out), the most miserable weather in living memory…combined with a deep recession has forced us to take stock of our current and future financial position.

“In order to have the headroom to drive Eden forward and not endure a death by a thousand cuts, due to underestimating the impact of this recession over the next few years, we have decided to implement a fundamental restructure in the way we do things.’

Eden currently has 445 full-time equivalent jobs and the job losses are planned across all areas of its operation.

A statement from Eden also pointed out that there is now enormous pressure on income in the charity sector and the challenges of fundraising in the current economic climate have affected its financial strength.

In a BBC interview Smit said: “We were assuming a better than expected visitor number because of the Olympics and the big brouhaha over that, but the Olympics disappointed us – we actually had a lot fewer people.”

He added: “The business is in really good shape, but no business can carry having an expenditure higher than its income.”

The Eden Trust, which owns the project, posted an annual income for 2011/12 of almost £31m.

In a letter to staff, Smit said: “No sugar-coated pill will ease the anguish for those affected, all we can say to those of you who will be leaving is thank you so much for all you have given Eden and we hope you will depart feeling a great deal of pride in all you have achieved in creating a very special space, for now and for the future.”

On Twitter, visitors and local people pointed out they were fond of the Eden Project and sad that jobs were going, but several Tweets criticised the high admission prices which start at £19.50 for an adult and £13 for over-60s and students. Over-fives can get in for £8 – or for free if they have walked, cycled or taken public transport to the site, and under-fours are free. There are reduced prices for evenings.

Eden’s revenues are used to for educational projects and to strengthen communities.

A statutory consultation on the job losses started on Wednesday 30 January.