Thank you to everyone who helped make Living Wage Week 2025 such a success!
We were thrilled to announce a major milestone this Living Wage Week: the Living Wage employer network in Scotland has now reached 4,000 employers! This achievement reflects the incredible commitment of employers and supporters who work tirelessly throughout the year to champion the real Living Wage and demonstrate the difference it makes.
Below, you’ll find some of the highlights from this year’s Living Wage Week. For more news, make sure you’re subscribed to our monthly newsletter – it’s the best way to stay connected and informed.
Welcomes & Announcements
Our first employer announcement came from leading Scottish firm McTaggart Construction who achieved Living Wage accreditation. We also welcomed St Andrew’s Hospice, a charity that provides specialist palliative care. The real Living Wage allows people to live with dignity and makes a huge difference to workers who are struggling to keep their heads above water. These employers choose to go further than the UK Government minimum because they value their people.
The Living Hours network in Scotland has made great strides since its launch. Building on the real Living Wage, this scheme gives workers stability and secure working hours. Based in the Scottish Borders, ERIBE is a design house and manufacturer of high quality knitwear, while Alba Facilities Services, headquartered in Glasgow, deliver complete facility management and engineering services. We are delighted they are both now part of the Living Hours network, joining other Scottish employers who are leading the way in tackling insecure work.
While the real Living Wage and Living Hours gives workers security now, a Living Pension offers a practical solution to employers who want to help staff save enough for their needs in retirement. West Lothian College became our newest Living Pension employer and first Higher Education employer in Scotland whose commitment will help staff build a secure and dignified retirement.
In other announcements, Glasgow City Region marked a major milestone in its campaign to become a Living Wage Place, surpassing its ambitious year one target of gaining 200 new Living Wage accredited employers in the Region.
Activities and Events
To start the week, Serving the Future brought together hospitality and tourism leaders to explore building a resilient, innovative, and people-focused industry for everyone.
Dundee always surprise us with their Living Wage ideas! As well as a successful Business Breakfast, the Action Group members, with help from Dundee FC Community Trust, Dundee United FC Community Trust and Street Soccer Scotland held a football match with a difference (featured photo).
In the capital, the Edinburgh Fair Work Action Group celebrated Living Wage Week in a series of blogs and held a fantastic Fair Work in Edinburgh event. The Fair Work Convention celebrated 10 years and invited people to help shape the future of Fair Work in Scotland.
The Glasgow City Region Living Wage Action Group held a well-attended and productive Better Business event. Inverclyde, partner of the Glasgow City Region programme has seen a lot of growth in their Living Wage network recently so it was great to see them celebrate this at a Living Wage event.
The Scottish Borders Living Wage Action Group brought together community and business leaders at their popular annual Business Breakfast event with a focus on how the real Living Wage can strengthen Scotland’s economy.
In Aberdeen, First Bus lent their support to the campaign by displaying Living Wage banners on buses, while many employers across the country made sure their Living Wage logo was visible in windows and on social media.
The Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 72,000 people in Scotland, amounting to more than £680 million extra wages going into the pockets of low-paid workers. It truly is wonderful to see this impact grow.
Social Media Content
Our social media channels lit up again thanks to all our supporters who joined us online. We had some fantastic new video content from employers, employees and Action Groups. You can watch these on our YouTube channel if you missed them.
Ministerial Engagement
Each year, Scottish Government Ministers visit a range of Living Wage employers. These visits are a great way to speak directly to each other in a safe and comfortable environment. We would also like to thank Fiona Hyslop who came along to the Living Wage Scotland Awards to present an award.
Some of the visits included First Minister, John Swinney’s visit to Capital City Partnership and Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care who was delighted to meet staff, clients and Bertie the Assistance Dog at Visiting Angelz! We would like to sincerely thank all the Scottish Government Ministers and employers who participated in visits.