Every member of staff will receive £500 a month, totalling £3,500 across the next seven months. At that point, the business will review the situation and see what, if any, assistance the government is offering and possibly continue with more help if needed.

The 42-staff commercial printer made the announcement to its workforce last week.

Director Brian McAllister said the move would provide some relief to a lot of people who are struggling in the current climate, and that with costs increasing week to week, it offers some kind of stability.

“Most people are under pressure at the moment. And they will get the initial payment this month,” he said.

“They were relieved and very thankful. Everyone at the moment is struggling with increased costs in general, with energy as the big thing.”

MLG weathered Covid and lockdown using the furlough scheme. It has since made changes to its sales operation and shift patterns and was back in full production in October 2020. Its volumes have increased in recent months and the business reported “an unusually busy summer period”.

“Most people in the factory have done extra shifts. So this is also a bit of a thank you for their support,” McAllister added.

MLG managing director Janette McAllister told Printweek it was pointed out after the news had broken that the staff support package was “also a good thing to do to keep people, but we have a really good staff retention rate anyway; some of them have been here 30 years and beyond”.

The move has also resulted in calls from new customers, she added, “who are basically saying that we are the kind of company they want to deal with”.

MLG said its recent growth has partly been the result of changes in its sales approach, sparked by lockdown.

“Selling has completely changed. There is no need for the traditional milk round, and we have transferred some accounts to the CSR team. Our turnover is around the same, but we are making more profit,” said Brian McAllister.

The business has also been proactive with the recent paper shortages; ordering and buying ahead which has helped it win jobs because it had the paper available when required. Even then, it said, customers have sometimes had to be offered alternatives to their original choice of substrate.

Operating from circa-3,700sqm premises, MLG operates two B1 Komori litho presses, including one with a reel sheeter, two B3 Heidelberg litho presses, Konica Minolta digital printers, and Epson and Roland DG wide-format kit.

Also running a wide range of finishing equipment from manufacturers including MBO, Muller Martini, Polar, Autobond, and Heidelberg, the company wins work from the Scottish Government Framework, and its clients include Public Health Scotland, Royal Botanic Gardens, ScotRail, and Sky.

Other businesses have also started to step in to assist their staff with the cost-of-living crisis.

Nick Dixon, who acquired the Edit agency from Kin + Carta last year, said on LinkedIn last week that the business has just instigated a trial for a half-day Friday, is continuing with flexible working from home to reduce travel costs, and will give its staff a £1,000 bonus payable in September.

They will also be able to use their £300 a year health benefit not just for health, but to pay bills.

He said: “[The] announcement regarding the energy cap is a massive blow to us all; business, colleagues and ultimately the overall economic welfare of the country, with people having less money to spend to drive our economy.

“I would stress to my fellow business colleagues that now more than ever, is the time to support our employees.”