Shortage of trained talent in hotel and hospitality sector leaves North Highland College University of the Highlands and Islands in Dornoch under pressure to supply student workers; hotelier David Whiteford and UHI lecturer Karen Higgins view demand as encouraging sign of industry recovery
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Hoteliers in Ross-shire and Sutherland have been inundating a Highland college with requests for trained staff amid an industry-wide shortage.
North Highland College in Dornoch, a satellite campus of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), has seen students in its hospitality section in high demand during the summer.
During lockdown, with hospitality hit hard by periods of closure and restricted operation, many staff have sought work in other sectors.
It is estimated up to 50 per cent of those staff will not return to their past jobs in the hotel industry, with Brexit also impacting on availability of labour from beyond the UK.
North Highland College UHI runs various professional cookery and hospitality courses from the Dornoch campus, but is struggling to keep up with demand for its students from Highland businesses.
Lecturer Karen Higgins said: “We have been inundated with businesses contacting us to see if we have students available to start work in their establishments.
“This really shows how the industry is starting to pick up again after a terrible year and gives great hope to anyone interested in a career in hospitality.
“We really want to support the local hospitality sector by training new staff and have an array of courses and options to suit any potential students.”
David Whiteford, group chairman of Highland Coast Hotels - a collection of hotels on the North Coast 500 tourist route - said: “The Hospitality sector has clearly had a torrid time over the last 18 months.
“It is wonderful, now, to be experiencing a return to strong business in the new norm.
“With a vibrant ‘staycation’ market likely to continue for the foreseeable future, and the loss of many experienced hospitality workers as a result of Brexit exodus and Covid-19 displacement, our industry has never before been in such a position to offer so many exciting and fulfilling careers.
“At Highland Coast Hotels, we are in a very strong position to offer year-round employment, full-time contracts and real career development.
“We are delighted to be working with North Highland College’s hospitality section and supporting them in all their initiatives to recruit both the young wishing to enter this exciting sector, and those who, later in life, wish to pursue a second career.”
The college has hosted various meetings with local hoteliers in Sutherland and Ross-shire to discuss what support can be provided to help fill the skills gap within the industry.
The new semester starts in early September, with college intent on providing the sector with work-ready staff for 2022.
More information on all of the college’s Hospitality and Professional Cookery courses is available here.
