Crerar Hotels has added a new member to its leadership team, in a brand-new role that cements its commitment to lead as an employer of choice in the hospitality industry.
Claire Cuthbertson brings nearly 20 years of experience in management to the Scottish hotel group as she takes up the role of Group Human Resources Manager.
Cuthbertson joins the team this month, from roles within household brands such as Starwood Capital and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) gracing her CV. With an impressive background in Human Resources, she has held senior positions such as Regional HR Manager for Grand Central Hotel Glasgow, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel Intercontinental Hotel, The George and Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.
One of Cuthbertson’s main priorities will be to lead the Crerar Academy, which launched last year as part of a £1m investment in staff recruitment, retention, and development.
With ongoing investment of at least £250k per year, the Academy aims to support life-long learning and genuine career progression, giving employees the opportunity to receive the best training through university partners, access to industry body scholarships and a dedicated SVQ partnership to help staff gain formal qualifications.
The Academy is one of a tranche of initiatives aimed at employees launched last year, sitting alongside the group’s innovative new employee benefits package, with the newly revised Fair Fund.
The Fair Fund is an optional 10 per cent service charge at each of its properties, giving guests the chance to personally reward the outstanding service delivered by staff. Since its launch last year over a quarter of a million pounds has been paid out to team members across all departments.
Crerar Hotels’ commitment to its employees and guests is one of the many reasons Claire decided to start the New Year with a new job.
Cuthbertson said, “I’m thrilled to have joined the Crerar Hotels team at such an exciting time for the company. The way the group looks after its employees is revolutionary for the hospitality industry, so to be the first person to take on the role of Group HR Manager and spearhead the offering is a privilege.
“The Crerar Academy offers ongoing opportunities to all team members, and I’m looking forward to driving the programme forward. I’m also looking forward to working on our industry-leading Graduate Programme, which will see many candidates go on to work full-time within the business.
“The employee benefits which are already in place are impressive so I’m excited to build on this whilst also looking at recruitment, which is pivotal at a time like this.”
Chris Wayne-Wills, chief executive of Crerar Hotels, said, “We are thrilled to have Claire on board. She brings an unrivalled wealth of experience and knowledge to further strengthen our human resources team.
“We have continued to invest not only in our hotels and inns, but also in our people despite the challenges we faced in recent years. Claire’s new role will further bolster our employee benefits programme, drive training and development opportunities through the Crerar Academy, support the Fair Fund and hopefully help us recruit new faces to join our growing teams.”
Crerar Hotels has a collection of four- and five-star hotels and inns located in stunning destinations across Scotland such as Mull, Glencoe and Loch Fyne.