Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
FM launches hike in living wage rate
Airdrie company praised
Nicola Sturgeon visited Airdrie on Monday to announce an increase in the national living wage to the new rate of £8.45 per hour – an increase of 20p.
The First Minister met staff at painting and decorating company Bell Group, based on Rochsolloch Road, the most recent Scottish firm to complete the Living Wage accreditation process.
She urged other companies across the country to follow the local firm’s example as part of a drive to increase the tally of accredited employers to 1000 by this time in 2017.
The voluntary pay rate is reviewed every year using evidence from the Living Wage Foundation and is backed by the Poverty Alliance. The statutory minimum wage is £7.20 for over-25s, or less for younger age groups.
Speaking to the Advertiser, Ms Sturgeon said: “The living wage is really important because it’s set independently to take account of the genuine cost of living. This increase will mean a wage rise for lots of people, so it helps to lift families out of poverty and raise living standards in every walk of life.
“We’re trying to encourage more and more companies to sign up – we have an ambitious target of 1000 by this time next year. Right now there will be lots of employers out there who pay the living wage that aren’t accredited.
“It’s good for workers to be paid the living wage, but evidence says it’s good for companies as well, as their productivity levels go up and absentee rates go down, so it’s a win-win situation.
“There are still about 20 per cent of workers across the country who’re not paid it, so we need to keep pressing companies to sign up – my ambition is to see every worker across the country paid the living wage.”
Ms Sturgeon praised Bell Group, saying: “This is a hugely successful company, which started out as a family business and has gone from strength to strength. To have a company of this size, which is very successful across the UK, signing up provides an example to others, so it’s a really important addition.”
The event – part of the annual living wage week – was attended by Neil Gray MP, the SNP’s fair work and employment spokesperson at Westminster.
He said: “I’m delighted Bell Group was chosen to be the company face of the Living Wage rate increase; as one of the largest employers in Airdrie & Shotts, it’s great to see George Bell and his team get the recognition they deserve. They have always paid equivalent to the living wage but until now had not completed the accreditation – and I urge companies to sign up.”
Bell Group chief executive and chairman George Bell told the Advertiser: “We employ close on 1800 people and pay above the living wage anyway; this is another extension to our ethos and the way we employ people.
“We’re market leaders in the maintenance and painting industry, so if we embrace the living wage, we can then get our suppliers to buy into it too.
“I think firms should all achieve the accreditation, because doing so demonstrates commitment to employees’ standard of living, making sure they’re looking after people and recognising that if they pay properly they’ll attract the best.”
Mr Bell added: “It was nice the First Minister came to our office for the launch of the living wage and she did that because we’re a large employer with 125 apprentices across the country and are commited to training.”