Where We Work
Where We Work
Walker's Shortbread has been located within the same small community of Aberlour, in the Speyside region of Scotland, for over 100 years.
Our HQ is located at Aberlour House, originally a home at the centre of a large estate and was used as the headquarters for the Gordon Highlanders 51st Division during the war. For 50 years it was used as a prep school for pupils going on to Gordonstoun until they incorporated the junior school into the Gordonstoun campus in September 2004.
Walker’s have meticulously restored the building, as far as possible, to its former condition and the local community were very pleased to see the building saved for the enjoyment of future generations.
Grounds
The grounds at Aberlour House also have stables, grazing land for horses and an orchard which produces a good crop of apples for employees, local schools and residents at the local retirement home. The gardens are available to the local scout troop for their annual camp and to pupils from Aberlour Schools for fieldwork in rural studies. Over the years Walker’s have invested in farmland and woodland in the local vicinity around the village and Aberlour House, to help protect the local environment and take great pride in managing this land in a sustainable fashion.
To maintain the land and gardens around the factories in Aberlour, Walker’s employ an estate manager and a team of gardeners. The woods are professionally managed by Scottish Woodlands and there are footpaths through the trees, allowing access for the local community to enjoy walking, cycling, bird watching, running, pony-trekking and orienteering.
The grounds are rich in biodiversity with a full range of native plants and trees as well as a diverse array of wildlife including such species as red squirrel, badger, roe deer, pine martin, fox, buzzard, heron, woodpecker, bats and owls. The local environment has various protection status’s including Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the unique habitats and animal Species that can be found within these habitats.
People
Walker’s Shortbread has been located within the same small community of Aberlour for the last five generations and several generations of local families have been employed over that time. The Company has a relatively low employee turnover and firmly believes, where at all possible, in promoting from within the existing workforce and providing the necessary training and support.
The Company has a core workforce of approximately 1,200 and this number is increased with the addition of up to 450 seasonal workers during peak production periods. Traditionally Walker’s works a 2-shift operation with weekend work utilised when required.
Walker’s Shortbread is a major local employer in the Moray area, with around a quarter of the workforce being foreign nationals who have settled in the area. Company inductions, in-house training, health and safety information and general factory instructions are all provided.
Factories
Walker’s Shortbread operates four factories in Aberlour and two in nearby Elgin.
The original village bakery in Aberlour has been adapted as a test bakery for new product development in support of the business.
