A wedding venue group in South Wales has given an immediate inflation busting pay rise to staff.
The Oldwalls Collection, which operates two popular wedding venues in the Gower, Swansea, has launched a Pay Awards scheme to support employees during the cost-of-living crisis after UK inflation hit 7% in March, the highest in three decades.
Existing salaried staff, with salaries ranging from £24,000 to £50,000, will receive an immediate pay rise averaging 12%, while hourly staff will receive an increase on their wages as the company scraps National Minimum and Living Wage rates, allowing under 20s working in the firm to earn up to 56% over the minimum wage.
Managing director Andrew Hole, who started the company with brother Simon in 2008, said: “Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our loyal team we’ve bounced back to deliver some truly incredible wedding celebrations. It’s our duty to provide financial security to get our staff through the cost-of-living crisis.”
He added: “We are currently proud employers of over 160 - this is our largest ever headcount and still growing. Hospitality remains an exciting career prospect and we aim to drive the standards to ensure hospitality employees are recognised and properly remunerated for the amazing work they do.”
The Oldwalls Collection is the largest employer in Gower. Over 50% of its salaried workforce earn more than £30,000 per year, 20-25% higher than the average Wales salary in hospitality currently at £25,000 .
The company is now looking to expand after acquiring Llansantffraed Court Hotel, a former country house hotel and restaurant in Abergavenny, in July 2021 in a £3.5m deal.
It is now investing a further £3.1m to renovate the Grade II listed 330 acre estate, including developing a purpose designed wedding reception space called The K Room.
The new site will join Oldwalls two existing wedding venues, Oldwalls Gower and Fairyhill, as well as its seven luxury holiday cottages. It will offer a reception and ceremony space for 150 guests minimum, on-site accommodation, two bars and an evening entertainment space.
Opening in June, the new Sant Ffraed House by Oldwalls will accelerate the group’s property portfolio beyond £20m.
The company has already filled 37 new positions for its new Sant Ffraed House wedding venue, who the company said were attracted by its Pay Awards policy. It is also recruiting for a further 20 salaried positions.
The groups all year around wedding venues attract up to 40,000 wedding guests per year to Gower. Sant Ffraed House is expected to attract over 10,000 wedding guests from June to December 2022.
