Fixing the Hospitality staffing issue

How a Perthshire Hotel is re-framing the challenge

Staff at a Perthshire venue are set to benefit from a tailored employee development programme which is helping reduce staff turnover in the hospitality sector.

Turas Hotels group, which counts McKays in Pitlochry amongst its portfolio of 6 properties, 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 Highland Perthshire and the wider highlands.

Accommodation and development

As well as making staff accommodation improvements at two of its properties in the Cairngorms National Park, 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 Turas group, enabling staff to get creative by contributing to the group’s message on social accounts.

Major challenge

“Recruitment is a major challenge, especially given our geographic locations and the lack of private accommodation available,” said Delia Keating, Turas 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, like McKays, are in beautiful locations 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.”

Reducing staff turnover

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.

“The message that we want to convey is that they can grow and develop, here, within the group.

“We have a lot of international staff 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 live-in staff, too. Why not? Staff are such a key part of our business.”

*Turas Hotels group are one of our ‘Business To Watch’ partners.

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