More than 4000 employers across Scotland are now accredited as part of the Living Wage movement. This includes household names such as SSE, Diageo, Borders Biscuits and AG Barr, alongside smaller and medium sized organisations like the Scotch Whisky Experience and Capital City Partnership. Recent additions to the movement include Advanced Cleaning & Ultimate Services Ltd and the Green Welly Stop.
The real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based solely on the costs of living. Accredited Living Wage employers commit to paying the real Living Wage to all directly employed staff aged 18+, as well as regular contracted third-party staff – such as cleaners, catering or security staff. As a voluntary scheme, the real Living Wage is a way for employers to recognise the value of their workers and to ensure that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay.
Despite a challenging economic context for many employers, the Living Wage movement across Scotland has seen continued growth year on year. This is a testament to the now over 4000 employers who have built and maintained the network and to their commitment to ensuring that everyone who works for them earns a wage that meets the cost of living.
Since the Living Wage movement began, accreditation has delivered a pay rise to over 72,000 people in Scotland, amounting to more than £680 million extra wages into the pockets of low-paid workers.
Despite this, 11.4% of jobs in Scotland still pay less than the real Living Wage, this equates to 288,000 jobs
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said:
“We’re proud to be celebrating the milestone of 4000 accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland, which represents 25% of the 16,000 employers across the UK who have joined the Living Wage movement. The growth of the Living Wage movement across a range of sectors demonstrates the common values many employers share; that workers should earn at least enough to live on. We hope to see more employers join the Living Wage movement by becoming accredited, to help create a just labour market in Scotland where every worker can thrive.”
Karen Jamieson, Operations Manager at Green Welly Stop said:
“The Green Welly Stop are proud that we are now an accredited Real Living Wage employer! Although we’ve been paying the Real Living Wage for the past five years, gaining formal accreditation is our way of reaffirming our ongoing commitment to fair pay and valuing every member of our team. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and this step shows that we’re in it for the long term — ensuring our staff are rewarded fairly for their hard work today and in the future”
Rona Hunter, Chief Executive at Capital City Partnership, said:
“Since becoming an accredited Living Wage employer in 2016, it has continued to enhance our recruitment and wider policies. We are proud to be part of more than 4000 Living Wage accredited employers in Scotland who are driving up fair work standards. We hope that many more join the Living Wage movement, because it’s good for workers, good for business and good for Scotland.”
Paige Evans, HR and Business Executive at Capital City Partnership, said:
“Working for a Living Wage employer brings a whole range of positives, including having an effective voice in helping to shape policies and improve staff service standards. It helps to create trust that results in good working relationships where everyone benefits. I’ve noticed when we recruit that people ask about us being a Living Wage employer and note how it makes us stand out. It gives you a sense of pride as an employee”.
Employers in Scotland are also leading the way on Living Hours – an accreditation designed to ensure security of hours and contracts alongside a real Living Wage. There are currently 117 Living Hours employers in Scotland – representing 43% of the UK total. Living Hours employers in Scotland include SSE, Dear Green Coffee and the Scottish Government.
Living Wage Scotland have also recently began delivering the Living Pension accreditation -where employers commit to providing access to a voluntary savings target so that workers can build an adequate savings pot to achieve a decent standard of living in retirement.
Living Wage Scotland believes that the combination of Living Wage, Living Hours and Living Pension accreditation can help drive up standards and deliver work that works for everyone.
For more information, contact us at accreditation@povertyalliance.org