A record number of employers have signed up for living wage accreditation in Edinburgh following the Capital’s commitment to be a Living Wage City.
In November 2021 a new partnership of city employers and the Council launched a plan to more than double the number of living wage accredited employers in Edinburgh. By helping to tackle low pay and insecure work, this is an important part of work needed to meet the city’s goal to end poverty in Edinburgh by 2030.
Since then, a record 58 organisations have now made a commitment to pay the Real Living Wage in Edinburgh with 42 employers accredited during the first five months of this year. This is the most successful period ever for new sign ups in Edinburgh and will result in more than 300 employees receiving a direct uplift in pay as a result of their employer’s commitment to the Real Living Wage.
The new sign ups – which include George Watson’s College, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), drinks company Glenmorangie and charity Age Scotland – join a movement of 541 Edinburgh based businesses voluntarily paying their staff a minimum hourly wage of £9.90 per hour.
To support even more employers to become accredited, interested organisations are invited attend an interactive networking event on Thursday 16 June.
Hosted by Dr Ishbel McWha-Hermann at the University of Edinburgh Business School, the business breakfast will be held in partnership with Living Wage Scotland, the Council and University of Glasgow with tickets free to reserve on Eventbrite.
Councillor Jane Meagher, Convener of Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Tackling poverty in Edinburgh remains one of the Council’s key priorities. We want to make sure everyone can take advantage of everything the Capital has to offer and is paid a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
“It’s really positive that so many employers have been inspired by our new Living Wage City status. We’ve already doubled the number of organisations signing up, directly responding to our call to join us in making Edinburgh fairer. We want to see this trend continue.
“We all have a part to play in making sure Edinburgh’s economic recovery from Covid results in a fairer society. We have a commitment to end poverty in Edinburgh by the year 2030, but face challenges with the cost-of-living crisis and rising energy costs. By signing up to be a Living Wage employer, employers can show how much they value their workers and the financial security they deserve.”
Christine McCaig, Living Wage Projects Coordinator at Living Wage Scotland, said: “Nobody should experience in-work poverty and the Living Wage is a welcome step towards stamping out unfair working practices.
“The ‘City Status’ Edinburgh received last year is a sign of how much the Capital values workers and the Council’s commitment to becoming a fairer society. Being a living wage accredited employer has benefits for organisations, too. It shows care and commitment and can lead to greater retainment of skilled employees.
“It’s great to see such a surge in sign-ups and we should continue to aim high. Let’s work towards seeing every Edinburgh organisation accredited to help end poverty in our city.”
With Watson’s recent accreditation, Principal, Melvyn Roffe said: “At Watson’s we have long tried to ensure that everyone is properly paid for their work, but now is the right time to make the public commitment as a Scottish Living Wage employer.
“Poverty wages disrespect the contribution of individuals, put families under strain and undermine our communities. We should all do our bit to put a stop to them.”
Newly accredited employers in Edinburgh include:
- George Watson’s College
- Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC)
- Age Scotland
- Water Witness International
- Health in Mind
- Jump Research Ltd
- Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance
- The Glenmorangie Company
- EALA Impacts CIC
- Moonwake Beer Co.
- The Pantry and Pantry Events
- Richard Murphy Architects Ltd
- Union Direct Limited
- The Lane Agency Ltd
- Mackinnon Slater
- Chamomile Sanctuary
- The Corner Shop PR (Scotland) Ltd
- Create Business Properties
- Sequoia Information Services Group
- Stockbridge Decorators Ltd
- Greenside Venues LTD
- ProjectChange
- Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC)
- Go Forth
- Genoa Black Ventures LLP
- Helen Lucas Architects Ltd.