The Cumberland Building Society has provided funding to Tregarthen’s Hotel, Restaurant & Cottages on St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, supporting the next phase of the hotel’s long-term development plan.
The investment will be used to expand and improve staff accommodation, helping the business attract and retain seasonal workers.
Tregarthen’s plans to add four new staff rooms within the main property alongside improvements to existing lodgings.
The enhanced facilities will include en-suite rooms, upgraded Wi-Fi, and some units designed for couples, improving living standards for employees who often relocate from the mainland for seasonal work.
Rob Baldry, director at Tregarthen’s, said: “Due to our location, staffing is naturally a challenge and we often look to employ staff from the mainland.
“The main driver is to provide the best quality staff accommodation that we can, as we know happy staff make the hotel a friendly and relaxed place to be.”
He added: “In a location where recruitment is costly and retention is fragile, improved living conditions can reduce turnover, lower hiring expenses and create a more committed team.
“By focusing on staff accommodation, we’ve been able to cut recruitment costs by more than half and we are getting people who we know and want to return. As a result, we can provide guests with the experience they come for.”
Funding was arranged by broker Lance Anelay of Bespoke Business Finance.
Derek Smith, commercial business development manager at The Cumberland, said: “Tregarthen’s is a fantastic example of the kind of independent, community-focused hospitality business we’re proud to support.
“Running a hotel on the Isles of Scilly comes with unique challenges, and our aim was to create a funding solution that would give the team the confidence to invest in their people and their future.”
