Scottish hospitality business Manorview has responded to the cost-of-living crisis with a commitment to increase wages across its business, while also freezing prices in its bars and restaurants.
Manorview owns eleven hospitality venues in central Scotland, including local restaurants and bars such as The Lowland at Lynnhurst Hotel in Johnstone, The Commercial in Wishaw, and The Torrance in East Kilbride.
The business has just been named as winner of the Industry Trailblazer award at the Scottish Living Wage Awards. As a Living Wage Employer, Manorview voluntarily pays the real Living Wage rate – a rate that’s independently calculated based on the cost of living – to everyone in their business at a minimum.
This year, that rate rose by 10%, moving from £9.90 to £10.90 per hour – which is between £1.40 and £6.09 more per hour than the government’s national minimum wages. As an accredited employer, Manorview will increase everyone’s wages to the new rate by November 28th. Those on a higher hourly rate will also receive a raise. Members of its team who are on salaries will also receive a wage increase.
In January, the business has also committed to share 10% of its net profits from the previous financial year with everyone who has been in the team for 12+ months. The amount each person will get is to be calculated on average hours and not on pay or role. This means that whether someone is a Kitchen Porter, Housekeeper, Hotel Manager or Director, they will get the same profit share if they work the same hours.
Managing Director of Manorview, David Tracey, said: “In these situations, it can be challenging to identify the ways that you can make a difference. The reality is we can’t influence rising energy costs, and we can’t lower fuel costs, but what we can do is look after our team and ensure our customers can continue to enjoy our venues without costs rising there too.
“Not only are our customers the lifeblood of our business, socialising is such a key part of people’s wellbeing. So, we wanted to play our part by freezing the prices so that we weren’t making it more expensive for customers to enjoy our restaurants and bars.”
The price freeze will apply to all of the restaurants and bars the group operates throughout central Scotland – and Manorview has committed to keeping them frozen for as long as it can afford to.
Operations director Carlton Graham, said: “Our customers should know that when they eat and drink with us, they are contributing to something bigger. They are making it possible for us to pay the Living Wage and increase our team’s pay across the business. In this economy that’s no mean feat, and we are very grateful to our fantastic, loyal customers.”
Manorview is also looking into other ways it can support its team throughout this period, with plans being discussed to set up a pot of money that the team could access if they had a personal crisis that they needed financial support with.
