Bletchley Park Trust, which runs the World War Two codebreaking site in Buckinghamshire, has announced a redundancy proposals programme amid “continued pressure across the UK visitor economy”.

It says that “like many heritage attractions” it has “experienced lower visitor numbers in a challenging economic environment, resulting in reduced income”.

It is proposing to cut its overall staff by 12%, starting with a voluntary redundancy programme.

According to the Charity Registerit has 104 staff and is supported by 8 trustees and 250 volunteers.

Its spending has outstripped its income for four of the last five financial years. It’s most recent financial accounts filed with the regulator show that for the 12 months to December 202 it spent £8m but earned £7.6m.

The charity says this comes after it had “exhausted other significant cost-saving options”, adding that it is forecast to make a loss this year and “incur further deficit in future years”, without further action to reduce costs.

“As an independent museum and charity, largely reliant on visitor and supporter income, it has a responsibility to ensure that its operating costs remain aligned with its income,” said the charity.

“The action being taken now is designed to put Bletchley Park on a more sustainable financial footing and protect its ability to care for this nationally important historic site and deliver its charitable mission, for generations to come.”

The charity is also looking to undertake capital projects including plans for two new exhibitions to open in 2028 and 2029 as it looks to “attract new audiences”.

Its chief executive Iain Standen added: “This is a difficult decision because the strength of Bletchley Park has always been its people. We have an outstanding team, and I am immensely grateful for everything they have done to make Bletchley Park the successful museum and heritage attraction it is today.

“The visitor attraction and heritage sector is operating in a very challenging economic environment. 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.”

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