10,000 new jobs a year as Scotland plays host to major events

NEARLY 10,000 tourism and hospitality jobs will be needed each year in Scotland between now and 2017 to cope with a rush of cultural and sporting events, according to a new report.

The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles and the second Year of Homecoming, all planned for 2014, will require the creation of thousands of new positions.

The authors of the study hailed the hospitality sector as “powerhouse behind Scotland’s economy,” but warned that businesses were struggling to fill skilled posts.

Tourism experts said the coming years were a “golden opportunity” for the industry, and said that if needed, workers may be recruited from the rest of the UK to meet the demand.

The research by People 1st, a skills council for the leisure sector, pointed to the series of high-profile events over the next six years as a boon for Scotland. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Scotland’s biggest city for the 2014 Games, with a further predicted increase in tourist numbers of 4 per cent each year until 2017, according to VisitScotland, the national tourism agency.

However, it is not the only internationally significant gathering of 2014, with plans for a second Year of Homecoming, following the inaugural 2009 event, which generated £53.7m in tourism revenue and attracted 95,000 visitors. Also in 2014, Gleneagles will host the Ryder Cup, with more than 45,000 spectators expected each day.

The People 1st report found that Scotland’s £4.2bn tourism industry was in good health, employing 216,600 people last year, a 1.5 per cent rise on the previous 12 months.

Riddell Graham, director of partnerships at VisitScotland, said: “With the world’s attention on Scotland over the coming years there is a golden opportunity for the tourism and hospitality industry to benefit. This is a tremendous chance for people to build on their skills and get involved to help deliver a fantastic experience for visitors and promote Scotland to the world.”

In its “State of the Nation” study, People 1st warned that more high-calibre managers and skilled professionals were needed to fill vacancies in the run-up to 2014 and beyond. In all, it estimates 9,440 jobs will be generated every 12 months until 2017, with a third of those skilled positions.

David Allen, head of Scotland at the organisation, said: “The sector continues to be the powerhouse behind Scotland’s economy and one of the very few to be actively recruiting. Yet businesses are still struggling to fill a range of management, chef and front office positions requiring a high level of skills.”

VisitScotland has already appealed to banks to help businesses expand and prepare for an boom in holidaymakers over the next several years.

Siobhan Drummond, senior lecturer in tourism at the University of the West of Scotland, said: “The high profile events over the next few years will be excellent for Scotland. They will show the country on a world stage.

“In terms of skills shortages, there are shortfalls in certain areas, and one of the biggest challenges is the sustainability of the jobs created by these events.”