Hotelier worried hundreds of jobs could go

A Lochaber hotelier fears many hotels in the region will be forced to make hundreds of staff redundant over the winter.

T he businessman, who asked not to be identified, said conversations with others in the industry were far from positive and it appears most are preparing to shut down for the next few months.

“The Job Retention programme which follows the furlough scheme only applies to Tier 3 when a business is legally required to close, and we in not that position in Lochaber,” he said.

“In my own case, I’m facing laying off 75% of my full-time staff, not to mention part-time jobs.

“These are local people, living in the community.

“It’s heartbreaking to lose people who have been with you for years, people with great skills, and young people at the start of their careers.

“For some this is their only source of income. They ’ re facing their hardest winter ever. Food bank use in the area is so high it’s scary.”

He fears the talent pool could drain away to the cities, where there is still some work in the hospitality sector and be lost to the region for ever.

“We’ ve got to get through the next three or four months and come out fighting,” he said.

“We need to protect our staff and be able to start afresh in February or March.

“The trade feels as if it has done all it can to protect customers, staff and communities, and having been told we can open, we invested to ensure everyone’ s safety.

“To operate hospitality in the pandemic requires extensive track and trace capabilities. That is outwith our control, and we are bearing the brunt of its failure.”