Purpose Statement

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Purpose Statement

The Lovat Loch Ness exists to offer a genuine, rooted Highland welcome — one built on history, warmth, and a personal touch that can't be replicated at scale. We call this Coftie: embracing what's right in front of us, from the land and loch that surround us to the people who work and stay here. Our purpose is to run a hotel and restaurant that gives back as much as it takes — to our team, our guests, our suppliers, our community, and the environment we depend on — rather than treating any of these as separate from the business of hospitality itself.

How Our Purpose Is Delivered

  • Sourcing — our "forage, grow, gather" philosophy means ingredients and produce are sourced locally and seasonally wherever possible, set out in our Ethical Sourcing Policy and Sustainable Procurement Policy
  • Environmental stewardship — from our biomass woodchip boiler (the first in the Highlands) to our ongoing Climate Springboard and net zero work, and our Animal Welfare Policy
  • Our people — through fair pay (Pay Review Process), a genuine mentoring relationship for every employee (Employee Mentoring Procedure), enhanced leave beyond the legal minimum (Enhanced Leave Policy), and a workplace where concerns can always be raised safely (Non-Retaliation Policy, Grievance Policy)
  • Our community — through Hospitality Connect, and partnerships with Developing the Young Workforce and Hospitality Apprenticeship Scotland, building genuine pathways into hospitality careers
  • Our sector — through Caroline Gregory's roles with VisitInvernessLochNess, UKHospitality, and Master Innholders, and through sharing what we learn openly (Thought Leadership Statement)

How This Guides Business Decisions

Our purpose isn't a separate statement from how we actually run the business — it's intended to be the reference point for decisions, particularly where there's a trade-off involved. In practice, this means:

  • Weighing sustainability and ethical sourcing genuinely against cost and convenience, rather than defaulting automatically to the cheapest option (see our Sustainable Procurement Policy)
  • Investing in apprenticeships and mentoring even where it takes more time and effort than simply hiring experienced staff
  • Choosing to be transparent about gaps — for example, being honest in our B Corp evidence about where a policy or practice is new, rather than overstating our progress
  • Considering our environmental and community impact alongside commercial factors in significant decisions, such as procurement choices and business investments

Governance and Approval

This Purpose Statement is owned and approved by The Lovat's Directors, Caroline Gregory and Sean Kelly. It is formally reviewed as part of our Annual Directors' Purpose and Impact Review meeting, alongside our social and environmental performance and stakeholder governance, to confirm it remains accurate and is genuinely reflected in how the business operates — not just how it's described.

Publication

This Purpose Statement, and the Coftie philosophy it's built on, is shared:

  • Publicly, through The Lovat's website and guest-facing materials
  • With every new employee, as part of induction alongside our Buddy Checklist and Staff Expectations Sheet
  • With candidates, reflected in our Recruitment Pack and Job Offer Letter Template
  • With suppliers, through our Supplier Handbook
  • As part of our B Corp certification evidence, and any future public B Corp profile

Review of This Statement

This statement will be reviewed at least annually, alongside The Lovat's other governance documents.