A hospitality business on the North Coast 500 tourist route has ended its post-Brexit staffing shortage by introducing an innovative ‘work to live’ programme for staff.
The Seaforth restaurant and bar in Ullapool was forced to cease trading two days a week during the pandemic due to a chronic lack of workers – and rental accommodation for them to live in.
Left with no choice, the business owners purchased a local motel in order to attract and house staff.
Now they have gone a step further, introducing a programme of benefits including online skills training, personal mental health courses, free leisure access and optional half days – a switch which has seen them rewarded with 100% staffing levels, with all 35 positions required to run the business, seven days per week, occupied during the summer tourist season.
During the turbulent Covid period, and with Brexit labour shortages biting, a local ‘staff-sharing’ scheme had to be put in place in Ullapool by local, Mamta Patel, which enabled businesses to train and pool casual employees within the community.
Thanks to the success of its recent recruitment innovations, The Seaforth has not needed to use this community scheme this year, although it has provided online training for locals and accommodation for staff who could not find rentals.
More generally, the tourism and hospitality sector in Scotland is continuing to battle serious staffing issues. A summer survey by the Scottish Tourism Alliance found that 52% of businesses were still in ‘survival mode’, with 31% citing lack of suitable candidates for jobs as a principal factor.
Seaforth recruitment manager, Delia Keating, commented: “We experienced both periods of operation and closure during the really difficult time during the pandemic. Local businesses faced constraints, with limited operating hours and days available.
“This situation underscored the importance of our commitment to promoting a healthier work-life balance for our employees. We consider our team to be an integral part of our extended family, and this year, we’ve witnessed positive outcomes from this approach in our recruitment efforts.
“We implemented a comprehensive plan to ensure our staff feel well-supported, rested, and welcomed, which is a core value for us.”
On top of that package of incentives, plans are now underway to extend the amount of permanent, low-rent accommodation the business can provide its staff, which is critical, with so few affordable homes available in the area.
Employee Michael Miller said: “The Seaforth has been an incredibly supportive haven for me, where every detail has been carefully considered to make our working environment valuable. It’s more than just a job; it’s a home away from home.”
