Life at Caledonian MacBrayne

Our operation requires many specialist departments working in harmony to push us forward. Due to the nature of our work – transporting large numbers of people in often unpredictable weather – we are always ready to adapt. Adaptability and problem-solving skills are a must for life at CalMac. This is balanced by the satisfaction of getting our customers safely to their destination.

MV Loch Frisa crew members

Why CalMac?

Quite simply, there is nothing else like it. This is an opportunity to be part of a legendary Scottish organisation and join a highly trained team with a legacy of service charting back over 170 years. We offer far more than just a payslip. We want our employees to become part of the CalMac family for life, to help us in fulfilling our goals and creating the organisation we want to see.

Rewards and benefits

Employee benefits are available to all those who work for us. We offer a competitive salary, 37 days annual leave (pro-rata) and an industry-leading pension scheme. As a thank you for their dedication and hard work, our employees are eligible for free travel on our services and can access a range of discounts and offers for local businesses on Scotland’s west coast.  

Learning and career development

We offer excellent training, development and career progression opportunities. These include deck and engineering courses to support colleagues in the fleet looking to move to the next level of professional certification, secondment opportunities, and funding towards professional memberships.

Health and wellbeing

Our Employee Assistance Programme offers confidential, 24/7 support to help our employees improve their health and wellbeing in both their professional and personal life. Over 60 of our employees across our network are trained in Mental Health First Aid, to provide a listening ear to colleagues and signpost to useful resources. Our Wellbeing Action Group is made up of colleagues from across our network who are passionate about improving employee wellbeing at CalMac. We also regularly run training courses open to all employees focused on employee wellbeing.

Values and behaviours

Our purpose is to navigate the waters ensuring life thrives wherever we are. Our three core values – People First, Locality and Bravery – embody our purpose and are at the heart of everything we do.

Diversity and inclusion

We are an organisation open to all, proud to represent the rich tapestry of modern Scotland. Every individual should feel respected, included and celebrated when they work for CalMac. We’re excited to have established Inclusive CalMac – a group of staff and allies championing all that is unique about our people and developing a sustainable culture of inclusion within CalMac. In 2023 we launched our Women's Network which was created to proactively understand what, if any, challenges and barriers exist for women to thrive, progress and sustain their careers with CalMac.

MV Loch Frisa crew members
Motorman onboard vessel
Port Assistant at ferry terminal
Crew member on deck

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