Crerar Hotels appoints new group HR manager
The group said one of her 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
Crerar Hotels has added Claire Cuthbertson to its leadership team, in a brand-new role that it said “cements its commitment to lead as an employer of choice in the hospitality industry”.
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.
She has previously held roles within household brands such as Starwood Capital and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). She was the regional HR manager for Grand Central Hotel Glasgow, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel Intercontinental Hotel, The George and Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel.
The group said one of her 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 £250,000 per year, the Academy aims to support life-long learning and genuine career progression, giving employees the opportunity to receive training through university partners, access to industry body scholarships and a dedicated SVQ partnership to help staff gain formal qualifications.
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.”
She added: “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.”
