HUNDREDS of jobs have been lost as Scotland’s ski centres suffered one of their worst ever seasons, with operators warning lack of snow has cost the economy “millions of pounds”.
The operator of the CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre, near Aviemore has started consulting staff on potential job cuts losses at the site.
The ski centre and its funicular railway are owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The firm Natural Retreats began a 25-year lease for the running of the site and its railway in June 2014.
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But it said the latest ski season has been “challenging” and “poor” and this had affected revenue.
The company, which owns holiday accommodation at a number of locations in the UK and elsewhere, said its winter revenue was crucial to sustaining the operation of the centre during summer months.
Janette Jansson, of Natural Retreat’s CairnGorm Mountain Ltd, said a consultation process was ongoing and managers were still speaking to individuals to explore alternative options, such as opportunities for temporary redeployment elsewhere within the the company.
She said: “The current winter season has been challenging especially two of the key trading months, January and February, which includes the half-term holidays.
“Since the start of the year we have opened for snow sports on 24 days with limited terrain and uplift available. The poor season has had a huge impact on our winter revenue, which is crucial to sustain the operation during the summer months.
“The current review of our workforce at CairnGorm Mountain is being carefully managed to ensure that enough resources and staff remain in place to cope with demand at peak times.”
Glenshee in Aberdeenshire has been open for just 15 days this season – compared to 60 at the same point last year, and 69 the previous year.
Director Stewart Davidson, who has been at Glenshee for 28 years, said that this season was “among the worst” the Scottish snow sports industry has experienced.
He said: “We haven’t had to lay off any permanent staff, but we have not taken on 60-80 seasonal staff. This season has been a non-event – it’s so frustrating, but what can you do?
“We are in the hands of the weather. It really never got started and when you get into April people are doing other things even if you have snow.
“Overall millions have been lost to the rural economy this year. The industry is strong enough to ride out one poor season – we have had some good recent years – but we would not want another one.
“We had a good mid-term when there was snow but we just have not had enough.”
Scotland’s snowsports areas have seen more than 1.7 million skier days which have generated over £176 million for the national economy.
Despite the numbers using Scotland’s ski resorts going downhill the previous year – with nearly 23,000 less hitting the slopes – the sport still generated £21m for the rural economy.
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But yesterday there were just 28 runs open out of 165 available among Scotland’s five snow sports resorts. Glencoe has only been open for skiing and boarding on 23 days so far – less than one-third compared to previous years.
Spokesman Mariann Chisholm said: “It has been dire. We have been open 61 years and this year must be up there with the worst. We have not taken on staff and everywhere, local businesses etc, is decimated by it.”
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