Living Wage Employer accreditation

We’re very proud to announce that we have been accredited as a Living Wage Employer by the Living Wage Foundation, an achievement that highlights our belief that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. We are committed to ensuring that our employees earn enough to live on.

What is the real living wage?

The real living wage is the only hourly pay rate based on the true cost of living. It is independently calculated each year based on living costs and accredited employers choose to go further by paying all their staff, including subcontracted staff, a real living wage.

There is still a gap between the amount all employers have to pay by law and the real living wage that meets the costs of living. That’s why we are part of the UK employers who voluntarily commit to matching the real living wage – because it’s fair.

Why we pay a real living wage

In 2001 families came together and started a campaign to be paid a real living wage. Since then, thousands of families have benefited from earning a wage they can live on. 20.3% of all workers in the UK still don’t earn a real living wage which significantly affects their quality of life. Employees earning a real living wage report having more time to spend with their children, being able to save more for emergencies, and not having to worry about affording the basics. We believe everyone should be fairly compensated for their work and earn a wage that reflects the real cost of living, which is why we pay our employees a real living wage.

Why is paying a real living wage important?

Research shows that a full time job on the National Living Wage in 2021 did not guarantee people the minimum acceptable standard of living. With high inflation predicted to last beyond 2022, the recent 6.6% National Living Wage increase won’t be enough to protect working people from poverty as the cost of living continues to rise. Paying staff a real living wage based on the cost of living has never been more important. We believe that being an ethical employer means going beyond legal requirements to ensure our employees receive a wage that matches or exceeds the real ‘cost’ of living.

Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said:

“The campaign for a real Living Wage has had a huge impact on tackling work poverty, with over 370,000 workers now receiving an annual pay rise thanks to the commitment of 11,000 UK employers. However, while this year’s data on low paid jobs appears positive, our forecasts demonstrate a bleak picture for next year, with an estimated 5.1 million workers set to be paid below the real Living Wage. With the cost of living rising and families facing more pressure this winter, it has never been more important for businesses to do the right thing and commit to paying a real Living Wage.”

Rosie Fogden, Head of Research and Analysis at the Centre for Progressive Policy, said:

“Based on actual living costs, the real Living Wage is a really important measure of the extent to which work is paying people enough to live on. We have seen the price of household staples like bread and pasta rise by as much as 60% over the last year and this fast changing economic context gives the real Living Wage renewed significance as businesses and local policymakers look for ways to support their communities.”