Employee-owned Arran hotel offers living wage to staff

A hotel on the Isle of Arran has become a real living wage accredited employer just weeks after it became the first resort in Scotland to become employee-owned.

The spa resort at Auchrannie on the Isle of Arran. Picture: Donald MacLeod

Auchrannie will now pay all unpromoted staff aged 18 or over £8.75 per hour – higher than the UK government’s national living wage of £7.83 which applies only to those aged 25 and over.

The hotel’s management believe the commitment, added to the fact the business is employee owned, will encourage more young people to start careers on the island.

The resort, owned and operated by the Johnston family since 1988, is valued at £4.3m. An Employee Ownership Trust now holds 100 per cent of the company’s shares on behalf of its 160 employees.

“We are delighted to be able to make this commitment,” said managing director Linda Johnston told The National.

“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.”