By Dr Kirsteen Croll, Chief Executive Officer, Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO At Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO (SC031541), community is at the heart of everything we do. From preserving our heritage and welcoming visitors to supporting local groups and delivering educational opportunities, our work is only possible because of the incredible people behind it. … Read more
Blog by Colleen Wilkie at QTS Contracts As the only UK pay benchmark based on how much it actually costs to live, the real Living Wage is incredibly important. This is especially true in industries such as construction which face issues such as skills shortages, recruitment pressure and retention challenges. For example, the continued use of informal cash-in-hand arrangements and insecure zero-hours contracts found across … Read more
By Kat Brogan, Managing Director of Mercat Tours At our peak, Mercat Tours welcomed over 160,000 people in a single year at the Mercat Cross, Edinburgh – numbers that rival some global, five-star attractions. On paper, it looked like success. The reality was a different story. It was simply too many, too much. Behind the … Read more
by David Bone, Communications Officer, Land Energy I was once made redundant twice in under two years; such is the precariousness of the jobs market, particularly in areas that are overly reliant on erratic or seasonal employment. I am certain many readers will be familiar with the feelings of hopelessness and the creeping sense of … Read more
This blog was originally published as part of Scottish Tourism Month in 2025. A Journey into Wonder and Fair Wage Camera Obscura & World of Illusions isn’t only set apart by its location at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. A long-time tourist favourite, it offers visitors a magical experience: over 100 interactive sense defying … Read more
Highland Coast Hotels is bringing innovative, sustainable and community-led hospitality to the coastlines of the North Highlands. The group is already taking steps to strengthen and enhance the hotels it owns while supporting local communities and boosting regional growth. Being an accredited Living Wage employer is key to this mission. Since being established in 2021, Highland … Read more
This blog was originally published in March 2025. From Zakia Moulaoui, founder and CEO of Invisible Cities. When Invisible Cities was set up eight years ago, it was with the aim of supporting the people who most often feel disconnected from the benefits tourism can bring to a city. Our work, training people who have … Read more
Blog by Cheryl Stewart Cheryl Stewart is the CEO of Andron Facilities Management, a family-owned cleaning and facilities management company founded in Aberdeen in 1980. Now in its third generation of family leadership, Andron employs over 2,600 people across the UK and has been a Living Wage Foundation Recognised Service Provider since 2019. Cheryl sits … Read more
Written by Marlene Mamia Scotland is built on people. The people who welcome you, feed you, guide you, and create the experiences that make a place memorable. As an independent bakery and café, TheDorkyFrench vegan bakery see this every single day — and it’s exactly why being a real Living Wage employer matters so much to us. Running an independent bakery … Read more
Blog from McTaggart Construction The construction sector has long been faced with challenges around low pay, particularly for workers in entry-level and support roles. While skilled trades command competitive wages, many in our industry still struggle to make ends meet on the statutory minimum wage. This creates real hardship for individuals and families, and ultimately … Read more