Auchrannie to pay staff the real living wage

Auchrannie Resort has announced that it will become a real living wage accredited employer in a move which will see it becoming one of only two hotels in Scotland to make this commitment.

From the start of April, Auchrannie will pay all un-promoted staff, aged 18 or over, the real living wage of £8.75 per hour which exceeds the national living wage of £7.83, which applies only to those aged 25 and over.

The Auchrannie has introduced this change after setting efficiency targets and as a result of the collective efforts of the whole team, they have been able to significantly improve profitability through decreasing costs and wages.

Although the savings do not pay for the wage increases entirely, the company is confident it will see additional benefits and joins the 93 per cent of living wage employers who have seen benefits. These include improved employee retention, improved reputation and better working relationships between management and the rest of the team.

Foundation for success

Auchrannie believes that the team on the shop floor are the foundation for success and has therefore made this commitment to ensure that everyone takes home a fair pay for a fair days work. The other hotel which has signed up is the Scalloway Hotel in Shetland.

Managing director Linda Johnston said: ‘We are delighted to be able to make this commitment. When combined with Auchrannie’s recent initiative in becoming Scotland’s first employee owned hotel, this places Auchrannie in a very strong position to encourage young people to make a career in the hospitality industry and helps us to attract the best people.

‘In addition, we are confident that the collective efforts of our fantastic team will continue to strengthen Auchrannie’s customer care and community focus as well as improving the sustainability of the business going forward.’

The Living Wage Foundation which has been campaigning since 2004 for a wage rate based on living costs, is entirely voluntary and is calculated according to the cost of living based on household goods and services. Other living wage employers on Arran include North Ayrshire Council run organisations, Arranshand, Arran Active, VisitArran and CalMac.