Blackadders LLP has become accredited as a Living Wage employer. The Living Wage commitment recognises that everyone working at Blackadders receives a minimum hourly wage of £10.90 per hour. This rate is significantly higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour.
Blackadders LLP is a long-established law practice providing a comprehensive range of legal services across Scotland. The company joins over 120 accredited Living Wage employers in Dundee City who are working to ensure the local community and economy enjoys the benefits of the real Living Wage.
Blackadders LLP has been paying the real Living Wage for some time but sought accreditation to reinforce its commitment to Dundee’s ambitious plans as a Living Wage City and to encourage other employers to follow suit.
Dundee became the first place in the UK to achieve recognition for their ambitious plan to become a Living Wage City, a place-based approach to driving uptake of the real Living Wage by local businesses.
In 2022, the Dundee Living Wage Action Group launched their current 3-year Action Plan with the intention of growing the number of accredited employers, as well as the number of workers uplifted to a real Living Wage, in the city. They have now exceeded their targets for Year 1 thanks to employers like Blackadders whose commitment strengthen the Group’s Living Wage City ambition.
In Scotland, 91% of all jobs pay at least the real Living Wage, this is higher than any other UK nation. Despite this, nearly 1 in 10 jobs still pay less than the real Living Wage, this equates to 221,000 jobs.
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the costs of living. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis, recognising the value of their workers and ensuring that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay.
Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 60,000 people in Scotland and put over £370 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
Emma Gray, Joint Managing Partner at Blackadders said:
“We are proud to be a Living Wage employer and it is good to now have the official recognition even though we have been compliant for a number of years. Dundee has led the way in improving pay conditions and the more companies that can gain this status the better.”
Speaking on behalf of Dundee Living Wage Action Group, Dundee City Council City Development convener Cllr Mark Flynn said:
“I am delighted to welcome Blackadders LLP to the Dundee Living Wage family. It is great news to recognise another well-known, established employer in the city as one who pays the Living Wage.
“We know the impact paying a fair wage makes to the people of Dundee, so it is important that our local business community are supported and see the benefits of becoming accredited.
“I am pleased Blackadders LLP have committed to this increased rate of pay and I am sure this will have a positive impact to their employees.”
Christine McCaig, Living Wage Scotland Projects Coordinator said:
“We are delighted to welcome Blackadders LLP to our network of over 3,000 Scottish employers who together want to go further than the government minimum. Our growing network in Dundee includes a range of employers from Abertay University to V&A Dundee.
“Employers like Blackadders LLP are helping to set the standard for employers in Scotland by making sure that workers have what they need to get by, and we hope to see many more employers following their example.”