Highlands and Islands Students’ Association becomes an accredited Living Wage employer

23 July 2024

Highlands and Islands Students’ Association (HISA) has accredited as a Living Wage employer. HISA is a membership organisation and charity who work with students and staff across UHI to make students’ lives better – empowering their membership with Student Voice Reps, Clubs and Societies, Advice, campaigns and much more.

HISA recognise that one of their greatest resources as a charity is their dedicated team of elected officers and staff and that is why they have taken the step of becoming an accredited Living Wage employer. They are incredibly proud to take this step in their journey as a Students’ Association, thanking the officers and staff who mean so much to their organisation and to the students at UHI. Their accreditation means they are committed to paying every staff member and elected officer at HISA at least the real Living Wage now and in the future.

Their Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at HISA receive a minimum hourly wage of £12 per hour. This rate is higher than the government minimum for over 21s, which currently stands at £11.44 per hour.

Shannon MacCallum, Vice President Education, HISA said:

“As Vice President Education, I’m so proud that HISA has achieved real Living Wage accreditation. This highlights our dedication to ensuring fair wages for our employees and upholding our values of equity and respect in the workplace.”

Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said:

“We’re delighted that Highlands and Islands Students’ Association have become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of over 3600 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need.

Highlands and Islands Students’ Association join other well-known Highland employers such as Harry Gow and Eden Court Highlands and we hope to see many more follow their example.”

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 which 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 they have enough to cover basic living costs.

Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 64,000 people in Scotland and put over £485 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.

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