This Living Wage Week, we’re proud to celebrate Edinburgh’s progress in creating fair, secure, and well-paid work. Since 2020, the Edinburgh Fair Work Action Group has championed the real Living Wage across the city. Back then, 420 accredited employers guaranteed fair pay to around 33,000 workers. Today, that number has grown to 790 accredited employers, meaning 188,000 more workers now earn a wage they can live on.
This achievement hasn’t come easily. Rising costs and economic uncertainty make it challenging for businesses to commit to the real Living Wage. Yet, Edinburgh employers continue to put their people first – because fair pay matters. It’s one of the most effective ways to tackle poverty and ensure a thriving, sustainable city.
Driving Change Through Procurement
The City of Edinburgh Council is using its £1 billion annual spend to embed Fair Work principles in procurement. Since introducing a Real Living Wage requirement for suppliers in 2023, 93% of contracted suppliers now pay the real Living Wage, and 36% are accredited employers. This approach shows how public sector influence can drive positive change.
Spotlight on Local Leaders
Three Edinburgh employers exemplify the impact of secure work and fair pay:
- Carrick Home Services – A family-run care provider committed to fair pay for carers, improving recruitment and staff wellbeing despite sector challenges.
- Mercat Tours – An award-winning tour company accredited for Living Wage, Living Hours, and BCorp. Their commitment to secure work and fair pay has delivered 76% team retention and 96% satisfaction.
- The Lines Between – A social research agency embedding Fair Work into its culture, recently adding Living Hours and Living Pensions accreditation, and attracting new talent and opportunities.
The Edinburgh Fair Work Action Group have published a series of blog posts, to mark Living Wage Week, highlighting these employers and their work towards reducing levels of poverty in the city.
Join the Movement
Fair work is more than a policy – it’s a promise to our communities. Paying the real Living Wage helps tackle in-work poverty and builds a stronger, fairer Edinburgh. Going further, Living Hours accreditation ensures people have secure, predictable working hours, while Living Pension accreditation empowers employers to help staff save for a dignified retirement.
Together, these commitments create lasting change for workers, businesses, and society. If you’d like to learn more about any of our accreditation schemes and how they can help shape a better future for Edinburgh and Scotland, get in touch with us today. Let’s make fair work the standard, not the exception.