Digital marketing agency certified as a Real Living Wage employer

Swindon-based digital marketing company Smarter Media has been recognised as one of the South West’s official Real Living Wage Employers for the second year running.

They have received their accreditation from the Living Wage organisation, which seeks to promote and share good practice when it comes to valuing staff and their standard of living. 

More than 7,000 employers have signed up to voluntarily pay their staff more than the hourly rate set by law. Of those just under 400 are in the South West and Smarter Media, which is based in Gypsy Lane, Swindon, stands alongside companies including Nationwide, Apetito and Google.

MD Emma Carter said: “Offering a real wage to our team, even though we’re a smaller business, is important to our company ethos.

“We believe in investing in our people, whilst matching our values to grow and succeed – we want our people to succeed with us. One of the ways we can do that is to offer than a salary which is more closely aligned to the actual cost of living.”

The Real Living Wage is different – and higher – than the government’s National Minimum Wage. Currently, this is set at £8.20 an hour for the under-25s and £8.72 an hour for the over 25s and there is no separate rate to account for London weighting. The Real Living Wage is currently £9.50 an hour and £10.85 for those working in London.

The Living Wage Foundation believes the hourly rates set by government do not reflect the cost of living in the here and now. The government bases it on a target to reach 66 per cent of average earnings by 2024.

“In a community where unemployment is low, recruitment is tough and we are an SME competing against some corporate and big brands in the town, it demonstrates our approach to how valuable our team are to us,” Emma said.

“We aim to create a nurturing working environment with good pay and development opportunities and this is the foundation to ensure we keep the talent we attract. When your staff feel valued they will work hard to ensure customers feel valued so for me, it’s a win-win.”