SCOTTISH hospitality groups Manorview and Cru Holdings have both announced that they have become Real Living Wage employers this week.
The Real Living Wage is a rate of at least £9.50 an hour for anyone over the age of 18, which is paid voluntarily by employers. It is calculated by the Living Wage Foundation, which also administers the accreditation process.
Manorview, which operates nine venues across the central belt, has said the accreditation will result in a 6.6% wage rise for its employees aged over 23, a 13% increase for 21 and 22 year-old employees and a 45% rise for those employees aged 18 to 20.
Employees aged under 18 will also be paid the Real Living Wage, resulting in a pay increase of 105%.
The business has also committed to scrapping zero-hour contracts, unless they are specifically requested by a member of staff.
Manorview managing director, David Tracey, said: “This is an extremely proud moment for the business.
“We have been working closely with Living Wage Scotland for many months to become an accredited employer and we’re 100% committed to paying the Real Living Wage to every single member of our team.
“Quite simply each time the living wage increases, our wages will too. We’ve started to roll out the news to the group and so far the feedback has been extremely encouraging. The fact our accreditation makes us the 100th hospitality business to make this commitment makes it even more of an amazing milestone for both our team and the industry as a whole.”
In the Highlands, Cru Holdings has announced that it will pay the Real Living Wage in all six of its bars and restaurants. The business currently employs over 100 staff across its venues in Inverness and Nairn, and the Real Living Wage accreditation forms part of an employee benefits package that includes company-wide discounts, birthday treats and holiday allowances that increase with service.
Director Scott Murray said: “The wellbeing of our staff has always been a top priority for Cru Holdings, but the last 18 months have really made us look at new ways that we can support our team through unprecedented times.
“We have recently held a review into our business at all levels, looking for ways in which we can improve employees’ work-life balance. Alongside an average 10 to 15% salary increase across the board, we have added enhanced benefits and guaranteed a maximum working week to ensure everyone has the chance for some much-needed downtime.
“These new initiatives would never have been possible without the support of our incredible customers, who have got behind all of our bars and restaurants post-lockdown. We know that not all businesses are as fortunate as we are in such a volatile time, however our success is thanks to the hard work of all our team – and we’re delighted to be sharing that success with them.”
