DIAGEO, the global drinks firm behind Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff, has pledged a multi-million support fund for pubs and bars in Scotland.
Available from July, the two-year long initiative, Raising the Bar, will allocate £4 million to licensed venues in Scotland to help finance the purchase of physical equipment required for pubs and bars to reopen, such as hand sanitiser dispenser units, protective equipment for staff (PPE) and outdoor equipment.
Operators can register their interest in the scheme – which launched following a global survey of bar owners to identify their requirements for reopening after lockdown – on the My Diageo website from today (June 24); publicans will also receive training and resources for best practice in their bars and pubs.
The £4m allocation is part of Diageo’s £100m worldwide support package for venues.
Ivan Menezes, chief executive of Diageo, said: “Pubs and bars sit at the heart of every community. We have launched Raising the Bar as so many outlets have been impacted by this crisis and badly need help to open their doors again.
“We are calling on governments around the world to provide long-term recovery packages to help the hospitality sector. These businesses play an essential role in bringing people together to socialise and celebrate – something that we have all missed so much during this terrible crisis – and sustain hundreds of millions of jobs, which provide a first foot on the employment ladder for young people.”
