Ingredients manufacturer Macphie is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Employee Trust scheme.
The Trust, which owns 12% of the Aberdeenshire-based firm’s shareholding, has commissioned several initiatives over the years helping to benefit not only the current workforce but also retired staff members.
“The dedication and commitment of our staff across the company is reflected in their work – and this deserves more than just praise,” said Macphie head of marketing and communications Anna Massie, who is a Trust member.
Initiatives for retired employees include payments over winter, when fuel costs tend to be high, as well as contributions towards funeral costs.
“Our Trustees stay connected with our retired employees by visiting them annually or making calls to those further afield and we keep everyone up-to-date with a quarterly newsletter which contains business updates and news from our Macphie family,” Massie added.
Massie also noted the family-run company’s commitment to creating and filling industry jobs, with support for students and budding industry professionals being another top priority for the trust scheme. This includes funding a student bursary for children or grandchildren of Macphie employees, who are struggling to cope with university costs.
In addition, the Trust funds a scholarship programme with Abertay University, which saw Dundee-local Jamie McDonald securing a role with Macphie as a product designer and receiving a financial contribution towards his studies.
Last December, Macphie hosted seven students in their final year as part of a seven-week foundation apprenticeship supported by the Trust. Massie said this gave pupils a rare opportunity to concoct and simulate the commercial development of new dessert sauces.
Helping to ensure a good work/life balance, the Trust also contributes to staff events such as summer barbacues and kids’ Christmas parties. It also funds a leisure subsidy scheme, which allows employees to claim money back on activities they enjoy doing in their spare time, ranging from the likes of gym or club memberships to fishing equipment, cooking classes or theatre tickets. Over £60,000 is said to have been paid out through this scheme since it was launched in 2018.
“Reaching the 40th year of this Trust proves how beneficial the initiative has been so far and it’s one that we will certainly continue and even improve in the coming years,” concluded Massie.
Since its move from Glasgow to Glenbervie in 1973, Macphie has grown to employ more than 250 staff across three sites. It was among the first Scottish businesses to obtain B Corp accreditation in 2015, and has since improved sustainability measures further to achieve a 93.7 rating in its latest B Corp assessment.
Macphie’s Impact Report last month revealed it had donated 14 tonnes of food to local charities since April 2022. The company more recently pledged to donate £50,000 to charities and community groups across Scotland, all of which it credited for its successful growth over the last couple of decades.
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