• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Thursday November 14 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Metro mayor celebrates Living Wage Week with visits to employers

West of England metro mayor Dan Norris has marked Living Wage Week with visits to companies in the region whose employees are hired under the enhanced pay scheme.

The Living Wage Foundation recently announced an uplift in its independently-calculated rate to £12.60 an hour – which will give some 7,100 employees in the West a pay rise of five per cent.

Joined by representatives of the Living Wage Foundation, the Mayor visited City of Bristol College and science and education centre We The Curious, discussing the importance of paying a fair wage to workers in the West of England.

Mayor Dan Norris said: “It was brilliant to meet with two local employers during Living Wage Week. As Living Wage Foundation accredited employers, they recognise the benefits of having fairly paid employees, here in the West of England.

“Their progress and achievements really do highlight how it’s so worth it for businesses that can pay the Living Wage.”

Hayley Shaw, director of HR at City of Bristol College, said: “We have been an accredited Real Living Wage employer for three years now and are very proud of this accreditation.

“It highlights our commitment to remain competitive, retain existing colleagues and attract new employees in an increasingly competitive job market.

“It was a pleasure to host Dan and representatives from the Living Wage Foundation last week to discuss our accreditation, our people-focussed culture and range of employee benefits.

“It is all of this work that has led us to being awarded our Membership Status to the Good Employment Charter, of which we are extremely proud.”

City of Bristol College has, in recent years, more than halved staff turnover, halved its gender pay gap, and almost doubled its percentage of meaningful staff appraisals.

The further education institution has won a CIPD award and been shortlisted for other public sector recognition as a result of its efforts to support and develop its workforce.

Jessica Brayne, Living Wage Foundation; Dan Norris, Mayor of the West of England; Lisa Smith, We The Curious; Penny Clark, Living Wage Foundation

Lisa Smith, people & places director at We The Curious, and chair of the Bristol Living Wage Action Group, said: “At We The Curious, we’re incredibly proud to be a Real Living Wage employer.

“Paying the Real Living Wage is central to our commitment to valuing and supporting our people, making sure that everyone receives a fair wage that reflects the true cost of living, which is incredibly high in Bristol.

“It’s one important step in building a workplace where our people feel appreciated and secure, allowing them to focus on doing their best work and contributing to our mission.

“This commitment to fair pay is one of the ways we’re building a supportive, sustainable environment for our team to thrive.”

Jessica Brayne, head of membership and regional development at the Living Wage Foundation, said:
“We were thrilled to mark Living Wage Week in the West of England alongside Mayor Dan Norris, discussing his ongoing support for the real Living Wage and our plans to collaborate on the Good Employment Charter, particularly in supporting green jobs across the region.

“The West of England is home to hundreds of outstanding accredited Living Wage Employers, and it was a pleasure to visit City of Bristol College and We the Curious to learn how paying a wage that meets people’s everyday needs has positively impacted their organisations.

“Good employers know that providing the stability and security of the Living Wage, Living Hours, and a Living Pension benefits staff, businesses, and society as a whole.

“We encourage more employers across the West of England to join the growing movement of responsible businesses who are transforming lives and setting a higher standard for what decent work looks like.”

Minimum wage, National Living Wage, Living Wage… what’s the difference?

The introduction of the UK minimum wage in 1998 was a flagship policy of the New Labour government.

In 2011 the Living Wage Foundation was launched, calling for every worker in the country to earn enough to provide their family with the essentials of life. The rate was set above the minimum wage.

In 2015 the Conservative government controversially renamed the minimum wage the National Living Wage, which raised the pay threshold for employees but was still below the internationally agreed definitions of a living wage.

Last month, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the statutory National Living Wage would be increasing by 6.7 per cent to £12.21 per hour, worth £1,400 for an eligible full-time employee.

The National Minimum Wage for 18-to-20 year-olds will also go up to £10 an hour – the largest jump on record, representing a pay rise of £2,500 for younger full-time workers – in a first move towards creating a single national rate.

The West – and Bristol, especially – is recognised as one of the most expensive places in the UK in which to live and work. Data from the Office for National Statistics puts the city second behind London.

The average asking price for a two-bedroom property for first-time buyers is £280,112, and the average advertised monthly rent is £1,336, with three-bed family homes commanding a monthly rent of £1,900 or more.

Main pic: Julia Gray, City of Bristol College; Jessica Brayne, Living Wage Foundation; Dan Norris, Mayor of the West of England; Hayley Shaw, City of Bristol College; Penny Clark, Living Wage Foundation; Tim Peacock, City of Bristol College