Image credit: Malcolm Cochrane
What a month it’s been!
After celebrating our 39th birthday in July, today we’re revealing three exciting awards. We’re thrilled to announce that Mercat has become a Certified B Corporation™, a Living Hours Employer and Fair Tax Accredited!
'These three awards salute the hard work and long-term vision of our team, in particular our exceptional Leadership Team. I’m deeply proud of our people, our work and the choices we make at Mercat that shape who we are as a community.’
Kat Brogan, Mercat’s Managing Director
So, what do these awards mean? Aside from being cast iron proof that ‘good business does good,’ of course.
B Corp™ Organisation: Business as a Force for Good
Mercat Tours is the very first and only exclusive visitor attraction in the UK to become B Corporation certified. B Corp is a global movement (with over 2,000 UK corporations) dedicated to benefitting all people, communities and the planet. Joining this cause, which strives for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy, has been a natural ambition for us since 2020.
B Corp Certification means that Mercat meets B Lab’s world-renowned high standards for social and environmental performance impact, accountability and transparency.
Every B Corp is scored in five impact areas: Workers, Environment, Customers, Community, Governance. We hit an impressive score of 96.5, which demonstrates our success in every decision and aspect of the business, including:
- Prioritising Fair Work as a Real Living Wage and Living Hours Employer, with permanent and secure contracts
- Committing to environmental and economic sustainability evidenced with the Green Tourism GOLD award
- Reconnecting the disconnected through the ‘Our Stories, Your City’ project and partnership with the Grassmarket Community Project
Image credit: Malcolm Cochrane
"Taking two years to complete, the BCorp Assessment is the most thorough and robust review we’ve ever conducted of our business, it has tested and proven Mercat’s mettle. We’ve already learnt a great deal about what we can do better and look forward to playing our part in delivering the work, achieving the vision and boosting the impact of the BCorp community."
Kat Brogan, Managing Director, Mercat Tours
Living Hours Employer: Advocating Security and Flexibility
We’ve become the first tourism business in Scotland to become an accredited Living Hours Employer!
As a Living Wage Employer since 2016, we wanted to take our promises a step further.
The Living Hours standard asks employers to provide the right to decent notice periods for shifts, with guaranteed payment if shifts are cancelled within this notice period; the right to a contract that reflects accurate hours worked; and a guaranteed minimum of 16 hours a week.
Our aim is to provide secure, permanent contracts, whilst ensuring flexibility for our team, which is particularly valuable for working parents and students.
"For me it helps to plan my life. I also like to be able to plan when I can see friends and family – I sometimes feel like I exist in a bit of a bubble juggling work and university at the moment so it is nice to know when I can have some social time."
Caroline, Mercat Team
Fair Tax Accreditation: Gold Standard
It might sound slightly dry, but money is important!
Tax contributions are a crucial part of the positive social and economic impact made by businesses, helping communities to thrive. Taxes support delivery of education, healthcare, roads, social care and more, to benefit all.
The Fair Tax Mark accreditation scheme encourages and recognises organisations that pay the right amount of corporation tax at the right time and in the right place.
"We’re delighted to welcome another Scottish business to our Fair Tax Mark family. While the Storytellers at Mercat Tours can bring terrifying tales to life, there’s nothing scary about their tax conduct–and through the Fair Tax Mark they can now demonstrate this."
Graham Drummond, Head of Communications and Movement Building, Fair Tax Foundation
Mercat is driven by the desire to give our team, visitors and community the very best experience of work and the city. For almost 4 decades we’ve connected people, places and the past through the power of storytelling.
These awards show how serious we are about making positive social, environmental and cultural impact in everything we do.