Science centre chief first casualty of crisis

Published on Tuesday 14 May 2002 01:00

THE chief executive of the troubled Glasgow Science Centre has resigned amid a financial crisis that threatens up to 30 jobs at the showpiece attraction.

Paul Smith is understood to have stepped down following mounting concern about overstaffing and spiralling costs at the 75 million complex in Pacific Quay.

The centre’s board is believed to have become alarmed at the lack of control of day-to-day costs while efforts were concentrated on tackling delays with opening parts of the attraction.

A source close to the centre said last night that the board was anxious to appoint a new chief executive with a firm grip on finances, suggesting there may be a further management shake-up to come.

He said: “There has not been the required focus otherwise the centre would not be facing this deficit.”

The move came days after the union representing the centre’s 160 staff predicted between ten and 30 job losses as part of a 250,000 cost-cutting drive.

David Grimmer, the centre’s spokesman, said the board announced Mr Smith’s resignation yesterday, “now that the development and funding phase is complete”.

He added: “Paul has been responsible for the project for the last seven years and now wants to pursue another challenge.

“Now that the GSC’s unique blend of science and fun is welcoming nearly 500,000 people a year, the board is seeking to appoint a manager with the required operational skills and expertise to take the GSC forward into its next phase.”

The appointment of an interim manager would be announced shortly, added Mr Grimmer.

It is understood that the appointment of an interim manager underlines the board’s determination to ensure it finds the right person to sort out the centre’s problems.

Managers at the complex are consulting their 160 staff about potential savings, such as reduced working hours and shift changes. Despite attracting more than 420,000 people since opening last June, visitors have not been sufficient to cover costs.

The target of 600,000 visitors in the first year of operation is likely, but observers close to the centre believe it is over-staffed.

The departure of Mr Smith, whose salary is believed to have been about 80,000, comes as another jolt in the centre’s difficult first year.

The centre, which houses a state-of-the-art science museum, an IMAX cinema and the Glasgow Tower, was officially opened by the Queen last June.

Despite nearing the 600,000 target for visitors by its first birthday next month, the centre has been beset with a series of problems, from initial opening delays to a fault-plagued observation tower.

The complex’s 423ft observation tower has been shut for about a third of the time since it was built.

When the centre opened on 21 June last year, staff were unable to charge visitors because of problems with the entertainment licence. Days later, the council ordered the Science Centre to close completely until the problems were ironed out.

The following week, the licence was expected to be approved during a meeting of councillors, but the issue descended into farce when members refused to ratify the certificate because of concerns over the safety of surround rails on upper floors .

Two days later, after the problem was rectified, the licence was finally granted, but the following week, hours after a visit by the Queen, the tower was closed because of a glitch.

There were also delays with the opening of other parts of the centre, including a lecture theatre that raised safety concerns because of its steeply-tiered seating.

Mr Grimmer believes the current cost problems had been caused by the tower being out of action for half the time the centre has been in operation.

He added that the poor overall tourism market during the last year, especially in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre, had also played a significant part.

It had also originally been assumed that other developments at Pacific Quay would have been completed by the time the centre opened, to boost passing trade.

A spokesman for Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, one of the centre’s main funders, said: “We are aware of the centre’s short-term difficulties and are working to help resolve them.”

George Bennett, the centre’s chairman, said: “Paul’s commitment and project management skills ensured that we created and successfully opened a world-class science centre for Scotland. We thank him for this major contribution and wish him well.”