Up to 100 jobs could be axed at a popular Ayrshire hotel and wedding venue, the Irvine Herald can reveal.
The Seamill Hydro in West Kilbride is set to enter a redundancy consultation with all 200 members of staff.
And between a quarter and half the workforce is at risk as the hospitality sector takes a battering amid the coronavirus pandemic.
SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson confirmed in the Scottish Parliament yesterday that jobs could potentially be lost.
Now he’s calling for Scottish Government Intervention to help support the 140-year-old Ayrshire institution.
Mr Gibson told the chamber: “The famous Seamill Hydro which opened in 1880 faces unprecedented difficulties due to the pandemic and yesterday began a redundancy consultation with its 200 employees with a quarter to a half potentially losing their jobs.
“This is due to the falling tourism and income from functions such as wedding receptions.
“Redundancy will have a devastating impact on both employees and the local economy.
“The Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund and Rates Relief have helped greatly but what else can Scottish Ministers do now to assist Seamill Hydro during phase two?”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pledged to support Seamill as much as possible.
She said: “I grew up in Ayrshire Seamill Hydro is a place I know well and I know how distressed everyone associated with it will be and that is a feeling that will be replicated across the entire hospitality sector.
“Any decision to consider job cuts is a dreadful one to take and I know how difficult that will be but we will continue to extend as much support as we possible can to [Seamill Hydro] staff or any other tourist business at this time and will fundamentally continue to work to get the sector opened as quickly and as safely as possible.”
Seamill Hydro declined to comment at this time.
