Local family business, Mercat Tours, closes a record year with a clutch of industry-leading awards. Embodying their commitment to People, Places and Planet the company has successfully achieved a Home Office Sponsorship License, Living Wage Scotland 'Local Champion Award' and Green Tourism GOLD award.
Next, the award-winning walking tour operator will begin their 38th year with a recruitment campaign, ready to prove good business does good and thrive further.
Home Office Sponsorship License:
Building their team and supporting their local community has helped the company thrive for almost four decades; from the team they nurture, the visitors they welcome and history they share on the 5-star walking tours of Old Edinburgh offered daily.
The foundation of Mercat Tours is looking after their people, framed as the Mercat Deal. These values are demonstrated in the company’s success in being granted a Visa Sponsorship Licence to welcome those outside the UK into a Living Wage job in the family business. Those requiring a sponsor for a Skilled Worker visa will be able join their diverse team and become part of the local community and company’s future.
'For Mercat, I was not a cog in the machine to be replaced when my time was up and Graduate Visa expired. My situation, instead, was one they realised they could commit to helping and in doing so, make Mercat more inclusive.' First sponsored visa-holder - Creative Content Executive, Lindsay Evans
Green Tourism - Gold Award 2023:
Mercat Tours help visitors enjoy the city on foot, the ‘greenest’ way to be immersed in the city’s past. They have just won Gold from Green Tourism, renewed annually since 2012, which recognises their commitment to environmental and economic sustainability.
'We're delighted to mark the hard work of the Mercat Team over the last 12 years with Green Tourism GOLD award. Protecting our planet is a priority for us all and Mercat is a great example of leadership and responsible business.
Green Tourism supports business to take practical steps to reduce any harmful impact on the environment and learn ways to make a positive difference to our people, places and planet.' - Andrea Nicholas, Chief Executive, Green Tourism
Local Champion Award Winners, Living Wage Awards 2023:
As an accredited Living Wage Employer, paying their team above the Real Living Wage since 2016, Mercat’s commitment to Fair Work is well-established. Going beyond and amplifying their impact, the team won the Living Wage Scotland 'Local Champion Award' last month, recognising this mindset and influence.
‘In a troubled world it can be tough to know how to make a difference. At Mercat we choose to 'control the controllable', to do all we can to support our team and our community. The Living Wage Scotland movement binds a powerful and growing group of like-minded businesses who believe in positive activism and business for good.’ – Kat Brogan, Managing Director, Mercat Tours
If you'd like to find out more then please check out the Mercat Deal and our latest awards. Don't forget to check back on our website at the end of December when we'll open recruitment to the Mercat team.