A Scottish hotel group has doubled down on recent plans to tackle the ongoing hospitality industry recruitment crisis – this time taking action to get recent graduates into the workplace.
Just one month after it announced an investment of more than £1m into staff attraction, retention and development, as well as a tranche of revamped employee benefits, Crerar Hotels has called for applications to its Graduate Management Programme.
And in the space of just 48 hours, the Group has been inundated with responses, receiving more than 200 applications for the first of 12 graduate places.
The roles are the first to be recruited under the newly launched Crerar Academy, which has been set up as part of the hotel group’s focus on people development, to provide life-long learning and career progression.
Crerar Hotels’ Graduate Management Programme aims to give the next generation of hospitality leaders their first taste of industry experience, offering what has been deemed an ‘unrivalled’ remuneration and benefits package alongside vital work experience and skills development.
Successful applicants will take part in an 18-month programme which offers practical, hands on experience of all aspects of the business alongside ongoing training and regular workshops with the company CEO and central revenue, finance and marketing teams.
As well as accommodation, meals and benefits, graduates will also receive a minimum salary of £25,000 per annum plus projected additional service charge earnings of around £3,000 – with the promise of a job placement in the area of their choice at the end of the programme.
Chris Wayne-Wills, CEO of Crerar Hotels, (pictured) said the response reflects that which the Group experienced following the announcement of its investment in people and brand-new employee benefits in June.
He went on, “It’s very clear that our commitments – financial and otherwise – to attracting, retaining and developing the best talent the hospitality industry has to offer, have made quite an impact.
“Not only have we recruited over 50 new team members since unveiling our new employee benefits package and introducing the Crerar Academy; we have been overwhelmed with the response to the call-out for graduates – the first roles to be advertised under the Academy banner.
“As well as being strong in numbers, the applicants have been of an incredibly high calibre, and serve to demonstrate the wealth of emerging talent we have in Scotland, just waiting to make its mark on the industry. The response is testament to the commitment we’re making, and steps we’re taking, to become a first-choice employer regardless of sector.
“It’s evident that the recruitment crisis is still rumbling on for the wider industry, but we’re making great strides in ensuring that our teams are bolstered with committed, talented employees looking for a rewarding career within a business where hard work and authenticity is truly valued.
“The successful Graduate Management Programme candidates will embark on some of the best training and development on offer along with a first-class benefits package and the opportunity to begin building a real future in the hotel industry – as well as learning their craft in some of Scotland’s most breath-taking locations. So, whilst we’ve already had a fantastic response, we would urge anyone interested in working with us to reach out.”
As well as offering employees the opportunity to constantly learn and upskill as part of the Crerar Academy, Crerar Hotels’ new ‘lifestyle benefits’ for employees include paid time off for parents on their child’s first day of primary school, accommodation, contributions towards driving lessons and pet bereavement leave.