Plymouth leisure bosses take pay cut to help shop workers

Bosses at the company which owns Drake Circus and the Barcode leisure complex in Plymouth have taken a 20% pay cut to help shop workers that are struggling because of the coronavirus lockdown.

Drake Circus Shopping Centre is open during the coronavirus pandemic, but only for stores selling essential items. Credit: Plymouth Live

The British Land Company has already given businesses in the Drake Circus Shopping Centre a rent holiday to help them get through the coronavirus crisis.

And now its board of directors have decided to waive 20% of their base salaries or fees for an initial period of three months from the start of this month.

The company will allocate this cash to its Community Investment Fund “to support those most in need” including workers in the mall and Barcode “ whose livelihoods have been affected”

Drake Circus Shopping Centre is open during the coronavirus pandemic, but only for stores selling essential items. They are Boots, but only its pharmacy department, Holland & Barrett, McColl’s and the M&S food hall.

British Land said it is funding expert, strategic advice from the CASS Centre for Charity Effectiveness for the leadership of “many of its community partners”.