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A Glasgow salad bar is set to recruit six new real living wage employees amid fears for the hospitality sector. Sprigg, established in 2018, has consistently been a real living wage employer, providing paid breaks, pension contributions and no zero-hour contracts. The business is preparing to open its third venue at 31 Waterloo Street early next year.
The expansion will see the team grow to more than 20 employees. During the recent budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a national living wage increase from April 2025 from £11.44 to £12.
21 an hour, prompting many hospitality leaders to express their fears for the sector. The business is preparing to open its third venue at 31 Waterloo Street early next year (Image: Story Shop) More than 15,000 UK businesses, including Sprigg, voluntarily pay the real living wage, currently set at £12.60 for workers aged 18 and over.
Employment Minister Thomas Arthur MSP visited Sprigg to mark Living Wage Week which was last week. Tom McDermott, founder of Sprigg, said: "It will be a tough time for employers, but we believe working in hospitality shouldn’t mean instability or low pay. "We’re building a business that’s not just good for our customers but also good for our employees and the community – and everything we do is a reflection of that.
" Sprigg uses the remote video interview platform Willo to improve the candidate experience, allowing potential hires to submit pre-recorded interview answers. Tom said: "Finding the right personality to fit into a close-knit team with incredibly high standards is a challenge that Willo has helped us navigate. "It saves time and allows us to see who our potential hires really are, beyond the nerves of a traditional interview setting.
" The new venue on Waterloo Street completes a triangle of Sprigg stores in the Glasgow city centre. Sprigg serves more than 2,500 people per week across its shops on Sauchiehall Street and Ingram Street. The firm is on track for its first-ever seven-figure turnover year.
The new venue will continue the reusable bowl initiative which has saved more than 11,000 bowls from waste..
