Highland Coast Hotels has today accredited as a Living Wage employer. The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at one of the Group’s hotels receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.90 per hour. This Living Wage rate was announced on Monday 15th November 2021 as part of Living Wage Week. This rate is significantly higher than the government minimum for over 23’s, which currently stands at £9.50 per hour.
In Scotland, more than 14% of all jobs pay less than the real Living Wage – around 330,000 jobs. Despite this, Highland Coast Hotels has committed to pay the real Living Wage and deliver a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work. This has been implemented across each of the Group’s hotels: Kylesku Hotel; Newton Lodge; Royal Golf Hotel Dornoch; Royal Marine Hotel Brora; as well as at the newly acquired Plockton Inn and The Tongue Hotel.
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the costs of living. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis, recognising the value of their workers and ensuring that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay.
Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 55,000 people in Scotland and put over £310 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
David Whiteford, Chairman of Highland Coast Hotels explains: “Since our launch in 2021, we have always recognised the importance of fair pay, and the benefits that accrue from investing in our teams and, the uplift that in turn brings to the local economy throughout the various North Highland communities in which we’re based. We take great pride in our commitment to nurture and develop our people to be the very best they can be.”
Gail Sutherland, General Manager, Royal Marine Hotel in Brora said: “This commitment from Highland Coast Hotels will make a huge difference to our team, especially with the current cost of living crisis. It will undoubtedly help with recruitment, particularly within the local community where we want to showcase the hospitality industry as offering fantastic career opportunities.”
Peter Kelly, Director of The Poverty Alliance said: “We all need an income that is enough to cover our needs and protect us from poverty, and it’s only right that employers pay a wage that reflects the cost of living. Too many workers in Scotland are paid less than the real Living Wage and, at a time of rising costs, are struggling to stay afloat. The real Living Wage can offer protection from those rising costs.”
“Congratulations to Highland Coast Hotels on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited.”
Gail Irvine, Living Wage Scotland Manager said: “We’re delighted that Highland Coast Hotels has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of over 2700 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need to thrive.
Our Living Wage employer network includes lots of smaller employers as well as larger and iconic brands like SSE, abrdn, Barrs, Mackie’s of Scotland, & D.C. Thomson. We hope to see many more employers following their example.”