A leading Scottish barber group is giving its entire workforce the day off when pubs reopen later this month to help boost local hospitality businesses.
Sovereign Grooming is delaying the official opening of its flagship New Waverley salon in Edinburgh by 24 hours to give staff the chance to support nearby bars and restaurants when restrictions ease on April 26.
The barber will also close its Aberdeen salon on the same day to allow the Granite City team to support “lifeblood” food and drink businesses on Union Street.
Managing director Kyle Ross said recent closures on the high street, John Lewis in particular, highlighted the importance of businesses standing together this spring.
“Our city centres are a business eco-system, and when one sector suffers, it has a knock-on effect for everyone,” he said.
“That eco-system has been on a knife-edge at various points over the past year and we feel it’s more important than ever to pull together and help our city centres recover.
“We employ 18 people, so in the grand scheme of things this is a very small gesture.
“However, we feel it is important to send a message of support and solidarity, and to do our bit to support Scotland’s city centres.”
He added: “With a 10pm curfew, we’re confident our teams will all be tucked up in bed early and ready for a busy day on the 27th.”
Ten new jobs are being created with the opening of Sovereign Grooming Edinburgh, which had been due to open in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town on April 26 following a six-figure investment during lockdown.
The salon will now open the following day.
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