Sir, Employers in the food and drink industry need to consider how rewarding their employees fairly can be a driver for growth. There are businesses in our sector who believe paying the living wage isn’t workable for a variety of reasons - pricing pressures, shrinking margins, uncertainty about Brexit… but our experience shows that by investing in the talented, skilled people who bring their passion and enthusiasm to work every day, the business case stacks up.
Since BrewDog gained accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation in 2014, when we had 300 employees, the business has grown at a phenomenal rate - we’ve consistently been listed in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 every year since, and our crew is now 1,500-strong. The ethical reasons for being a living wage employer are massively important and we passionately support the movement for fair pay for all workers in the UK, but our business case shows that by embracing the living wage, the beverage and hospitality industries alike can flourish and overcome the challenges ahead.
Fiona Hunter, head of people, BrewDog
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