Businesses across Scotland are using the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card as a way to reward and motivate their teams. From reward schemes to spontaneous tokens of thanks, the versatility of the gift card makes it an ideal choice for showing appreciation and supporting local communities.
Ashton McGill
Ashton McGill is a Dundee based accountancy firm which began using Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards in 2023 to help their staff during the cost of living crisis.
“Innovation is at the heart of what we do,” says Andy Lothian, Co-founder of Ashton McGill. “Many firms want to help staff but can’t always increase salaries due to national insurance costs.”
Meaningful rewards
For Ashton McGill, the goal was to make the staff rewards visible and personal. Cash incentives can easily get absorbed into salaries or create tax and national insurance implications, meaning the impact is often lost. This is what made a Scotland Loves Local gift card the perfect option.
“Giving people something tangible feels different,” says Alasdair. “When an employee receives a Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, it’s a token of appreciation that they can choose how to use, whether that’s a treat, something they’ve been putting off buying, or simply a little help between paydays.”
Supporting the local economy
Ashton McGill believes that businesses have a key role to play in strengthening the local economies and wants to ensure that money spent on staff rewards also benefits communities.
“A Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is a great way that we can look after our employees, and ensure the benefit we give stays in the local economy, driving footfall to our Scottish towns and cities.”
The business’s employees are based across Scotland in places such as Dundee, Perth and Inverness. The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card enables the company to provide a card specific to the town or city where they live.
Flexibility and ease
They described the ordering process as ‘smooth and quick’ and found the ordering system easy to navigate. Ashton McGill’s use of Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards has proven to be a simple, effective way to support staff, promote wellness, and reinforce their commitment to supporting local.
Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University, commonly called RGU, is a public university based in the city of Aberdeen, and was named the Scottish University of the Year in 2021. The organisation places a strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, flexibility and investment in the local community.
Julie Skinner is Resourcing and Benefits Manager at RGU and explained how and why they are using the Aberdeen Gift Card:
“In 2023, RGU introduced the Aberdeen Gift Card as part of its long service recognition scheme. RGU uses the Aberdeen Gift Card to provide a long term service award for their colleagues.
“As part of the programme, staff receive:
- £100 Aberdeen Gift Card for 20 years of service
- £200 for 30 years
- £300 for 40 years
“The university also sees potential to expand the use of the Aberdeen Gift Card in future reward and incentive initiatives.
“The card offers staff the freedom to choose how they wish to celebrate their milestone, with over 300 local shops, restaurants, hotels, and venues accepting it. This flexibility ensures every colleague receives a reward that’s personally meaningful.”
In the context of the cost of living crisis, RGU recognised that a practical, spend-anywhere reward is particularly valuable, whether used for everyday essentials, leisure, or special occasions.
Beyond this, the gift card also aligns with the core values of RGU:
‘For us, the incentive for choosing the Aberdeen Gift Card is the story it tells about our values as an organisation. Choosing the Aberdeen Gift Card represents a powerful message about the investment we’re making in the local community.”
Scottish Care
Scottish Care is a charitable membership organisation and the representative body for
independent social care services in Scotland, representing over 350 organisations delivering residential care, nursing care, day care, care at home and housing support services. The organisation places a strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, recognition and supporting their local community.
Laura Bennie, office manager and executive PA for Scottish Care, and told us how they used 17 of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards to reward their staff:
“In 2023, Scottish Care introduced the use of Scotland Loves Local Gift Card as a way to reward and acknowledge their staff. The organisation used 17 gift cards to thank their team for their exceptional support during challenging times, particularly throughout the pandemic. As part of the programme staff received a £50 Scotland Loves Local Gift Card for each team member.”
In the context of the ongoing pressures in the care sector, Scottish Care recognised that a practical and versatile reward is particularly valuable. Staff wellbeing is a core focus, with events and activities designed to bring the team together and support their mental health.
Beyond this, the gift cards also align with the core values of Scottish Care:
“Community is important to us as an organisation and we value the whole circle of support that is intrinsic with the Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards. No-one should live in isolation and one thing the pandemic taught is the power of connection. The Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards could encourage those who stopped engaging in their community during the pandemic to start visiting their local businesses again, especially those who may live alone. Using the Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards for our staff rewards is a way that we can show our support for communities across Scotland.”
Cairngorm Lodges
Cairngorm Lodges is a collection of luxurious self-catering lodges located on the Blelack Woodlands estate in the Cairngorms National Park. The organisation has strong values of sustainability, local engagement and staff recognition.
Gordon Drummond is the founder of Cairngorm Lodges and explained how they have used the Aberdeenshire Gift Card to say thank you to staff at Christmas:
“In 2022, Cairngorm Lodges introduced the Aberdeenshire Gift Card as a Christmas reward for their staff. Traditionally, the staff would have received a cash bonus at Christmas, but they wanted to change to a reward that would support the local economy whilst still offering choice and value.”
As part of the programme, each staff member received a £100 Aberdeenshire Gift Card as a Christmas present. The gift card provides flexibility in how it can be spent, covering both large retailers such as Aldi and a wide range of independent businesses.
Gordon highlighted that this versatility made it appealing, as it could meet the needs of all staff:
“As an employer, it’s not up to me to determine how staff use their gift card but by giving them the Aberdeenshire Gift Card, they had the means to buy their Christmas dinner or anything else they wanted with either the big names or the independents. The gift card was as versatile as cash, represented good value for staff, and supported local too, so it ticked all boxes.”
Cairngorm Lodges recognised that giving a versatile, locally redeemable gift card was particularly valuable. Staff appreciated the thoughtful and practical nature of the gift, especially during the busy festive season.
Malmaison, Dundee
Malmaison Dundee is a haven of sophistication and style, perched on the banks of the River Tay, and is part of the Malmaison group of luxury boutique hotels. With 91 bedrooms, event space for 170 people, plus Bar & Grill popular with residents and locals alike, Malmaison Dundee is at the heart of the Dundee community.
Malmaison Dundee offers a variety of rewards and incentives for staff, including a retention scheme, an online platform sharing company news, charity activities, and an Employee of the Month initiative, where the winner receives a £50 Dundee Loves Local Gift Card. The hotel also uses the Gift Card on an ad-hoc basis to recognise staff going above and beyond.
Dale Simpson is General Manager and Ewa Rankin is Cluster Sales Manager at Malmaison, Dundee. They told us more about how and why they use the Dundee Loves Local Gift Card.
“Retention is a big focus for us,” they explain. “As a University town, there will always be an element of staff turnover but we see the benefit of retaining staff who know our business. We also have an employee of the month initiative where we gift a £50 Dundee Loves Local Gift Card for the staff member to spend in the city, and use the Gift Card on an ad-hoc basis to reward staff for going above and beyond.”
Malmaison Dundee also integrates the Gift Card into its guest experiences. The Eat, Sleep, Love Local package includes breakfast, a room, and a £50 Dundee Gift Card, giving visitors the opportunity to spend locally. Guests can also purchase or top up Dundee Gift Cards at reception, making it a flexible option for gifts or personal use.
“Dundee’s independent and artisanal businesses play a huge part in the city’s tourism appeal,” they added. “By offering the Dundee Gift Card, we strengthen the city’s economy and create meaningful connections between our hotel, our staff, our guests, and the local community.”
They mentioned that feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Both staff and guests appreciate the choice and flexibility the Gift Card offers, and the initiative reinforces Malmaison Dundee’s commitment to supporting local businesses.
