Highland travel firm Wilderness Scotland looks for new staff to share in its adventures
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After an "unbelievably tough" 20 months, a leading Highland adventure travel firm is recruiting once again – and using a hybrid approach to work which could open up opportunities from a wider catchment area.
Wilderness Scotland, which is based in Aviemore is creating up to 12 jobs after having to lay off staff during the pandemic.
Karl Thurlow, head of business operations, said: “For the majority of 2020, half the team were working handling customers and cancelling 3000 holidays with multiple trip arrangements, guides, hotels, transport, etc.
“All of this was being done with no income at all. In 2020 revenue was down 96 per cent on 2019 and we reluctantly had no choice but to reduce the size of the team.
“However, recognising our commitment to the area as a key local employer, we kept these numbers to an absolute minimum drawing upon the business’ reserves to pay staff and meet other essential business continuity costs."
Although Wilder Scotland has been able to resume operations, Mr Thurlow revealed that revenue to date for 2021 is is only 35 per cent of 2019 levels with any benefit from staycations eclipsed by the absence of international travellers.
However, the future was starting to look brighter, and Wilderness Scotland is starting to rebuild its team.
The new positions include roles in sales, and operations support as well as for travel guides and are being advertised in response to rising demand for travel next year.
"We need to set ourselves up for what we hope will be one of our best ever years of trading in 2022,” Mr Thurlow added.
However, the change in working practices which the pandemic has brought means that the firm can start looking more widely for new talent – and potentially also cut the firm's carbon impact.
"Historically, we have relied more heavily on local employment or by candidates relocating to Aviemore to work from our base here," Mr Thurlow explained.
"Whilst we have always offered flexible working to include the odd home working day, the pandemic has proven that for many of our roles, it is possible to work from home on a more regular basis and as such we are in the process of implementing a hybrid working policy.
"This both supports the positive experiences of home working over the last 18-plus months, but also allows us to tap into an employment market a bit further afield, on the basis that a full-time worker would work three days office/two days home and as such the commute is less impactful than doing it five days a week."
The firm, which aims to deliver world-class holidays, journeys and wilderness experiences in the Highlands and Islands, was recognised as the sixth best small UK workplace in the 2020 Great Place to Work awards.
