SCOTTISH hotels group Crerar Hotels is taking steps to tackle the industry staffing crisis with a new initiative to help the company attract and retain more employees.
The business claims to have invested more than £1 million in a new range of measures to attract staff, including a benefits package that offers days off for employees’ birthdays, pet bereavement leave, paid time off on the day children start primary school and contributions towards driving lessons. On retainment, the group’s Crerar Academy will help employees to develop their skills and gain qualifications. Crerar claims the initiative will represent an ongoing investment of £250,000 a year and could see staff members recruited and working their way up to general manager position within seven years.
Crerar chief executive, Chris Wayne-Wills, said: “We’re coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic in a relatively fortunate position regarding our ability to invest in attracting and retaining talent. We planned meticulously for the impact Brexit was set to have on the industry’s workforce, so we are ahead of the game.
“There’s no doubt that the hospitality industry is in crisis when it comes to availability of skills – a crisis we have all met far sooner than expected due to the double impact of the pandemic and the fall-out of Brexit.
“In response we’ve accelerated our plans that are focused on not only becoming an employer of choice within the Scottish hospitality industry, but to become a first-choice employer regardless of sector.
“That’s why investment is so important. As a privately-owned company, we are committing more than £1m to our people development plans at a time like this as we know there is nothing more valuable than our people.”
