Written by Marlene Mamia
Scotland is built on people. The people who welcome you, feed you, guide you, and create the experiences that make a place memorable. As an independent bakery and café, TheDorkyFrench vegan bakery see this every single day — and it’s exactly why being a real Living Wage employer matters so much to us.
Running an independent bakery is hard work. We’re a small team of six, and for all of us that means early mornings, long days, busy weekends, and a lot of heart and passion. Like many small businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector, we work in a fast-paced environment where staff are the backbone of everything we do. Paying the real Living Wage is a clear reflection of how we value the people who make our business possible.
For us, it comes down to fairness and respect. Hospitality roles are often undervalued, despite the skill, creativity, and emotional labour they require. We believe that if someone is giving their time, energy, and talent to our business, they deserve to earn enough to live with dignity.
Before starting TheDorkyFrench, I worked in a restaurant that didn’t value its staff. Despite loving the job, I eventually had to leave because of that lack of respect — and I wasn’t the only one. That business has since closed. Hospitality simply doesn’t survive without people. Fair pay isn’t optional; it’s essential.
The real Living Wage helps create a positive workplace culture where staff feel valued, motivated, and secure. That care shows in our baking, our customer service, and the experience we offer to both locals and visitors.
Tourism has the power to be a force for good, supporting local economies and communities — especially when the people working within it are treated fairly. Many of our customers travel a long way to visit us, and we’re proud to be part of a growing movement of tourism businesses that believe doing the right thing for people is also the right thing for business.
A better, fairer tourism industry starts behind the scenes — in kitchens, bakeries, cafés, and workplaces where people feel genuinely valued.