Eden Project job cuts very hard - CEO

The charity says it is now in "fairly stable position"

A decision to axe 75 staff members at the Eden Project was "very difficult" but essential in terms of "safeguarding the organisation", a senior leader says.

CEO Andy Jasper said the economic climate coming into 2025 had been tough, with rising costs and the number of tourists visiting Cornwall dropping to about four million from more than five million before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The job losses followed a 45-day consultation period and included full and part-time staff taking voluntary redundancy and retirement, bosses said.

Mr Jasper added that the move meant the charity was in "fairly stable position" going forward.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the attraction, near St Austell, said the number of people losing their jobs had been fewer than "the 80 originally predicted", with some taking alternative roles or retraining.

Mr Jasper added that the organisation reporting a "healthy surplus" of more than £750,000 in its latest financial statements had been "down to those quick decisions" regarding restructure.

He said the figures reflected cost control measures Eden had put in place through a "challenging period" for tourism locally.

"What we've done means we can continue doing all the things the charity does, such as its education and conservation programmes," Mr Jasper added.

"In terms of health, we're in a fairly stable position at the moment, despite the tough economic climate for both tourism and charities in general."

Mr Jasper also argued that admission prices - £38 in advance or £42 on the day for adults aged 26 and over - were "exceptional value for money", even with the current cost of living.

"You have to remember that those tickets give you unlimited entry for a year, especially if you Gift Aid," he said.

"And, because Cornwall is our home, we give local passes to those who live here, as well as to residents of Devon, which amount to just over half the main admission price.

"About 25% of all our visits are made up of those local pass holders, they are the mainstay of our organisation."

Mr Jasper also said the venue had a "whole series of amazing events" to mark its 25th anniversary in 2026.

"We're really going to pull out all the stops," he said.

Correction 20 September: This article was amended after a previous version said Eden Project's job losses were initially announced the week before this article was published. However, they were announced in January 2025.