Highlands agency Inverness Travel says it is the first in the region to achieve Real Living Wage accreditation.

The scheme enshrines a pledge to pay all employees a wage that accounts for cost of living, one that exceeds UK government minimum wage.

The Real Living Wage is currently set at £9.50 for all employees aged 18 or over.

UK government living wage, by comparison, is set at £4.92 for under-18s, and ranges from £6.56 to £8.36 for 18 to 22-year-olds, topping out at £8.91 for those aged 23 and over.

Scott Murray, who runs Inverness Travel with his wife Sarah, said the move was an important step towards ensuring the long-term viability of careers in travel.

“Gaining Real Living Wage accreditation is just the latest step in our commitment to providing an attractive employment package, not only to thank our hard-working team but also to attract new blood into the travel industry," said Murray.

“The travel industry has faced some incredibly challenging conditions over the past two years, with rules around international travel changing regularly. Our team has really pulled together to support each other, our customers, and the business through all the uncertainty, and we are so proud of all they have achieved even when things were at their toughest.

“We know, though, that such conditions can be unsettling for those working within the industry, so we have strived to provide a consistent and dependable working environment for our team."

‘Inviting proposition’

Murray added the agency’s commitment to paying Real Living Wage would help "create an inviting proposition for new talent to enter the travel industry to learn the trade".

Earlier this year, Inverness acquired neighbouring agencies Alba Travel and Beaver Travel. Sarah Murray, meanwhile, is the co-founder of Sawbridgeworth homeworking agency Wanderluxe.

Scott Murray has been shortlisted for the John Hays Entrepreneur Award at the Travel Industry Awards by TTG, which will take place on Thursday (30 September).