Scotch Whisky Distillers Pledge £50,000 to Support Hospitality Workers Hit by Covid Impact

The Scotch Whisky industry has announced further support for the hospitality industry through donations totalling £50,000.

The Scottish Licensed Trade Benevolent Society (The BEN) and the Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) are the beneficiaries of the significant bequest made by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) on behalf of all its members.  Each charity will receive £25,000 to support their aims.

The donation is in addition to the significant support already provided by SWA member companies throughout the year in what has been a unprecedented time for the hospitality sector.

The BEN is a charity which offers financial, social and emotional support to people of all ages who have worked in the licensed and hospitality trade. Over the past nine months, the BEN has provided financial assistance to hospitality workers facing financial hardship and an uncertain future. Some of this support is in the form of one-off grants to help people pay their bills and enable them to buy food and other essentials.

HIT Scotland provides opportunities for people working and studying in the hospitality sector in Scotland to broaden their skills through tailored, vocational learning experiences.  During the last nine months, HIT Scotland has offered resilience scholarships and online learning to ensure people remain connected, while at the same time maintain learning experiences.

Scotch Whisky Association Chief Executive Karen Betts said: “This has been a devastating year for Scottish hospitality.  Every year, Scotland’s pubs, bars and restaurants normally welcome millions of locals and tourists – to enjoy a dram, a pint or a meal – in keeping with Scotland’s tradition of kindness and hospitality.  This year, a series of agonising closures have put the industry under severe pressure, and many establishments and jobs simply won’t survive.

“We know that many people in the industry are struggling to cope financially, and that many of these are young people at the start of their working lives or those who need flexible employment.

“The BEN and HIT Scotland work tirelessly to offer support to those suffering hardship in the industry, and their work has never been more important than it is now. We hope that this donation will help both charities continue their important work as we look ahead to better times for our hospitality sector.”

“The BEN and HIT Scotland work tirelessly to offer support to those suffering hardship in the industry, and their work has never been more important than it is now. We hope that this donation will help both charities continue their important work as we look ahead to better times for our hospitality sector.”

- Karen Betts, SWA Chief Executive

Chris Gardner, Chief Executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Benevolent Society, said: “We wholeheartedly thank the SWA and its member companies for the generous donation which will help the charity continue with the critical work we do, now, more so than ever. In these challenging times for all businesses, we are most grateful for the opportunity to remind people in the drinks trade and hospitality industry that support is out there, and we care about their futures.”

David Cochrane MBE, Chief Executive of HIT Scotland, said: “2020 has been a terrible year for hospitality, so to end the year with this donation and be able to plan with confidence for the future is a welcome relief. We will put the Scotch Whisky industry’s generosity to good use, ensuring that Scotland’s hospitality sector is supported through the tough times and ready to welcome the world back to Scotland as soon as possible.”

Notes to Editors:

Throughout 2020, SWA member companies have established schemes to help support the hospitality sector and their staff. These schemes include:

• Initiatives to help bartenders continue to work, including using bartenders and mixologists for recipe creation, brand consulting, and social media content;
• More flexibility on size of orders, allowing smaller customers in the on-trade to manage their inventory more effectively;
• Establishment of specific funds to support payment of wages and/or contributions to industry-based charities;
• Delivery of wellbeing packs, containing essential store cupboard items, to on-trade staff who have lost their jobs;
• Production and distribution of hand sanitiser to on-trade hubs and individual organisations, to help businesses with Covid-19 hygiene compliance;
• Free online training and support for on-trade staff.

For more information, please contact pressoffice@swa.org.uk

About HIT Scotland

Established in 1994, HIT Scotland works to inspire and support the hospitality industry by funding exceptional scholarship experiences for individuals working in the sector.  In this time, HIT Scotland has awarded over 3,000 emerging talent scholarships and 14,000 bursaries – all of which are solely funded by donations and support from the industry.

During Covid-19, HIT Scotland has:

• Developed an App, HIT@Home with information on business, wellbeing and career development.
• Hosted a number of virtual events to engage with the industry and to profile great Scottish produce.
• Taken part in many online discussions to look at the recovery strategy for the industry.
• Launched HIT the Rooms to support our accommodation providers
• Launched the HIT the Shops online portal to support industry suppliers.
• Developed a number of Scotland wide scholarships that will help retain the rising stars of the industry.

About The BEN

The BEN supports people of all ages who have worked in the licensed trade for at least three years full-time with beneficiaries receiving annual financial assistance as well as discretionary grants for emergency situations.

Examples include:

• Mental Health Issues
• support in covering utility and household bills
• the provision of home furnishings
• funding for injury rehabilitation equipment
• the supply of mobility and transport solutions

As Scotland's hospitality and licensed trade charity, The Ben is increasingly concerned about the impact of Coronavirus on the people of the industry, both in terms of health but also potential financial hardship.

The Ben is here as a safety net for anyone who works in the trade and is facing extreme financial hardship as a result of the virus, and the charity may be in a position to offer one-off financial assistance on a case by case basis.

If this applies to you or any colleagues please contact chris@bensoc.org.uk or call their office on 0141 353 3596.