A new Scottish hotel group is investing in accommodation and curated staff development policies in a bid to overcome the staffing crisis besetting hospitality.
Turas Hotels group, which owns 6 hotels, restaurant and distilleries in the Highlands, has conducted a review of how to meet urgent staffing challenges within the sector.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 59 000 jobs were lost in UK hospitality last year, alone.
Now the independent group is unveiling a programme of learning, support and accommodation improvements designed to meet the additional challenge of recruitment in the Highlands.
The geography of the group’s properties, from Highland Perthshire to the NC500, means finding private rental accommodation for staff is extremely difficult.
Indeed, one of the Turas group’s properties, The Seaforth in Ullapool, made headlines in 2023 by spending £475 000 to buy a motel for staff, such was the housing shortage in the village.
Now the group has made further accommodation improvements at its scenic Cairngorm Hotel property in Aviemore and the Boat Country Inn in Boat of Garten.
As of 1st April, all new group staff will receive a training and development plan including online inductions featuring introductions to the internal lay outs of the properties and messages from General managers.
The group is running a staff discount programme as well as incentives, free online training courses and weekly check-ins to ensure staff feel supported.
Content champions have also been appointed across the group, enabling staff to get creative by contributing to the group’s message on social accounts.
“Recruitment is a major challenge, especially given our geographic locations in the Highlands and the lack of private accommodation available,” said Delia Keating, group Recruitment and Social Media Manager.
“We see a shortage of staff, particularly kitchen staff and that is why we are investing in discounted accommodation and launching our new training and development plan.
“When people are due to start a new job, there can be a bit of anxiety. The induction videos are designed to make things familiar before they even arrive. They will see where they are going and will meet key staff like their General Manager.
“Our venues are beautiful, so we want people to feel excited about coming to work with us, and proud. We want them to feel supported before they arrive, and after.”
A 2024 survey of hospitality workers and businesses in Scotland by the Fair Work Convention found that 47% of respondents had ‘major problems’ recruiting staff.
A further 24% cited problems caused by high staff turnover with 44% choosing to reduce operating hours as a consequence.
Despite constraints of geography, policies already put in place by the Turas Hotels group has seen staff turnover reduce.
Further new measures, it is hoped, will lead to strengthened recruitment across all the group’s properties.
“We understand that people might want to go on and better themselves or go on to study,” added the Turas group Recruitment Manager.
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“The message that we want to convey is that they can grow and develop, here, within the business.
“We have a lot of international staff here and we give them flexibility with their hours so they can go and see these lovely locations. We give them discounts on things like our distillery tours at Uile-bheist in Inverness, little things that add value.
“When it comes to guests, they get a little welcome letter and a gift on their beds. We do that with staff, too. Why not? Staff are such a key part of our business.”
