Scotland’s Signature Group is one of the UK’s ‘best places to work’

Scottish hospitality group, Signature, has been recognised in the prestigious UK-wide ‘Sunday Times Best Places to Work’ list for 2024. 

The Edinburgh headquartered group was recognised for its commitment to nurturing talent through its Aspire and Inspire training courses for junior and senior managers, as well as its employee benefits, which include free food on shift, between 25% – 50% discount in venues, birthday days off, staff taxi contribution, Signature Dollars Rewards and an Employee Assistance Programme.

Signature’s collection of restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels – and a brewery – employs 650 people across 20 venues in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, St Andrews and Stirling.  

Owner and managing director at Signature Group, Nic Wood, said: “Hospitality has evolved in the last few years. Our customer needs have changed, sometimes beyond recognition, and our teams are continuously adapting to ensure their needs are always exceeded.

“Our teams reflect the success of our business – and it’s become increasingly apparent we truly are nothing without our people. We aim to promote from within and provide excellent progression opportunities and careers – this is something we champion and are proud of. It’s also vital that people have fun along the way whilst feeling cared for and empowered.

Wood continued: “Our mission is to serve happiness, and we can’t do that without the best people and this accolade is testimony to their commitment to our cause and we thank them for their participation in this initiative.” 

Group head of people, Joanne Brooks, added: “At Signature Group we try to live our values through encouraging excellence, accountability, inclusion and leadership with a good mix of fun across our venues. We are really proud that 29% of our employees have been with us for over two years, and almost 10% of our team have over six years of service.”

Employee Oliwer Nylander has been with Signature Group for three years, joining the team at The Queens Arms as deputy manager in 2021. He is now the venue’s general manager and has benefited from both the Aspire and Inspire training courses. He commented: “I’m very fortunate to have been given brilliant training opportunities at Signature Group to develop my career skills and personal growth.

“I have learned how to communicate better with the variety of personalities in my own team. My training has given me the skills to be able to challenge myself and the team to communicate better and manage the business more strategically.

“The supportive forum of the training days is always one of the highlights of my week, and I would recommend Signature Group to any aspiring hospitality manager.”