The Edinburgh Remakery is an award winning environmental social enterprise established in 2016. Their mission is to reduce waste and pollution by promoting a culture of repair and reuse, while empowering communities by sharing skills.
Along with collecting and refurbishing e-waste (computers, mobile phones etc) for reuse and resale, the Remakery encourage people to buy second hand by highlighting the social and environmental benefits of doing so. They also hold sessions and workshops which give people the skills to make, mend, and upcycle items themselves.
Central to the Remakery’s philosophy is their goal of contributing to a fair, equal, and supportive community with sustainability at its heart. They work closely with their local community ensuring services benefit those who most need them, and regularly collaborate with other social enterprises and charitable organisations to increase their positive impact across deprived communities.
Since becoming an accredited Living Wage employer in 2018, the Edinburgh Remakery has been a proud and active supporter of the real Living Wage, the only rate calculated based on what people need to live on. The Remakery strongly believe that being paid enough to cover the cost of living is the right of every worker.
“Our small team does amazing work to ensure we continue to provide support to our community, and we believe they deserve to be paid a fair wage for that work.”
Elaine Brown, CEO
The Process
Becoming an accredited Living Wage employer is a straightforward process which involves filling out an online form and the Living Wage Scotland team are on hand to answer any questions a prospective accredited employer may have. After submitting the form, each employer is personally contacted by a member of the team to ensure all is in order and that the employer is comfortable with all aspects of the real Living Wage and accreditation. Elaine, the Remakery’s CEO, was pleased at how easy and painless the accreditation process was.
“The process of joining the real Living Wage accreditation scheme was incredibly simple and straightforward – all gain and no pain!” Elaine Brown
The Benefits
The Edinburgh Remakery recognise that paying a real Living Wage benefits their employees and their organisation. When people earn enough to cover their basic needs, they worry less about money and the Remakery believe it creates a happier and more motivated working environment. Being a responsible employer is important to the organisation and their ethical beliefs. Paying a real Living Wage also ensures their staff know how much they are valued.
As well as enjoying the benefits of a loyal and motivated workforce, the Edinburgh Remakery believe that their real Living Wage commitment makes them a more attractive and credible employer to consumers, stakeholders, and prospective employees. Many accredited employers report improved retention rates, which means retaining a motivated workforce and results in financial benefits such as savings on recruitment and training. The Remakery have also found accreditation to be useful for procurement and are able to highlight their real Living Wage pledge in tenders for funding.
“Being a living wage employer has also increased our credibility as an employer and demonstrates the value that we place in our team.” Stephanie Bowring, Marketing & Events Manager
Stephanie believes actions like becoming an accredited employer are more important than ever during these challenging times. By publicly showing their commitment to a real Living Wage, the Edinburgh Remakery have demonstrated to their team how much they value them and hope this commitment encourages other employers to join the real Living Wage movement.
“I’m incredibly proud to work for an organisation that puts its staff first and is dedicated to supporting its workers by becoming an accredited Living Wage employer. Small gestures like this are so simple and easy to implement, and it can make all the difference knowing that you’re valued.” Stephanie Bowring
Join the Edinburgh Remakery today and become an accredited Living Wage employer