Scottish Borders based Live Borders has become accredited as a Living Wage employer.
Their Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Live Borders, including regular workers employed through third-party suppliers, receive the real Living Wage: a higher rate than the government minimum.
Live Borders is the leisure, sport and cultural trust for the Scottish Borders and are a key employer in the area. This accreditation contributes to the ambition of a local Action Group of Living Wage employers working towards making Scottish Borders a Living Wage Region.
In Scotland, 91% of all jobs pay at least the real Living Wage, positioning Scotland as the UK nation with the highest proportion of jobs paying at least the real Living Wage. Despite this nearly 1 in 10 jobs still pay less than the real Living Wage, which is around 234,000 jobs in Scotland.
Alison Moore, Chair of Live Borders says:
“Becoming an accredited Living Wage employer supports our People Strategy which seeks to attract and retain the best people for every job. We recognise that staff are crucial to the success of our business and paying the real Living Wage has increased the wages of many of our staff. Live Borders is grateful to Scottish Borders Council for their additional funding of Live Borders which has enabled us to become an accredited Living Wage employer.”
Marli Kiore, employee (aged 17) says:
“Live Borders paying the real Living Wage is one of the reasons I wanted to work for them, as they pay almost double the National Minimum Wage for someone my age.”
Robin Tatler, Scottish Borders Living Wage Action Group Co-Chair said:
“This is great news for employees in the Scottish Borders. Live Borders is currently undergoing significant changes as an organisation and this is a positive result for their employees, some of whom will see an uplift in their wages as a result of this accreditation.
The aim of the Scottish Borders Living Wage Action Group, set up in 2018, is to encourage every Borders employer to pay the Living Wage and become accredited.”
Rachel Morrison-McCormick, Living Wage Projects Coordinator said:
“We’re delighted that Live Borders has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of more than 3750 employers in Scotland who want to go beyond the minimum and ensure workers have what they need. It’s inspiring that despite the challenging operating context, more employers are investing in the real Living Wage, in recognition it can help create a happier, healthier and more motivated workforce.”
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate calculated according to the cost of living. Employers choose to go further than the legal minimum and pay the real Living Wage, recognising the value of their workers and ensuring that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay. There are currently more than 3750 accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland, with over 60 accredited employers in the Scottish Borders.
Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 68,000 people in Scotland. Accredited employers have provided almost £600 million extra wages into the pockets of low paid workers in Scotland.