The University of Stirling has been accredited as a Living Wage employer, in acknowledgement of its long-term commitment to paying staff in line with the cost of living.
Situated on an award-winning campus in the vibrant city of Stirling, the University is home to more than 1,500 dedicated staff who advance the organisation’s strategic priorities in research, teaching, and international partnerships, while guiding and inspiring students to realize their full potential.
Stirling has been paying the real Living Wage to all directly employed staff since 2015. This accreditation recognises the University’s commitment in this respect, and in helping their contractors to also do the same.
Karen Lawson, Executive Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development, said:
“We recognise how important fair pay is for the people who make our work possible. We’ve championed the real Living Wage for more than a decade, and we’re proud to strengthen that commitment through our new Living Wage Scotland accreditation.”
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said:
“We’re delighted that the University of Stirling has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of employers in Scotland who recognise that the security of a real Living Wage can help create a happier, healthier and more motivated workforce.
Our Living Wage network includes employers from across all sectors and industries, and we hope to see many more join University of Stirling in going further than the minimum.”
In Scotland, 88.6% of all jobs pay at least the real Living Wage, this is higher than any other UK nation. Yet the number of jobs paid below the real Living Wage has increased in recent years and now, over 1 in 10 jobs in Scotland pay less than the real Living Wage which equates to 288,000 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 that a hard day’s work receives a fair day’s pay.
Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 72,000 people in Scotland and put over £680 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.