The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Nursery group buzzing at plan for Living Wage
Employees: Independent Fife and Tayside outfit to set benchmark in sector
The Little Beehive Nursery Group, an independent organisation with nurseries in Cupar, Strathkinness, Montrose, Kirkcaldy and Newport, is planning to become a Living Wage employer by 2019, making it the largest independently owned nursery group in Scotland to do so.
The group has drawn up a plan to increase pay above inflation for the next three years, meaning that its qualified staff will enjoy an overall increase in wages of 25%.
Carol Craig, director of Little Beehive Nursery, said: “The average salary of a Scottish nursery practitioner in 2017 is £13,814.
“It is hoped that by 2019 staff at Little Beehive Nursery will have an entry level salary of £18,761. This will be for all fully qualified staff regardless of age.”
Finance administrator Matt Martin has been carrying out detailed research into the subject for six months.
He said: “Staffing is our biggest cost and yet our most important resource here at Little Beehive Nursery.
“Of every pound our customers spend with us, over half goes to our staff covering training and other costs as well as the actual salaries.
“We have steadily been increasing both our salaries and our fees over the past three years as the business has grown.
“We opened a new nursery in Strathkinness two years ago which has also helped.
“We must continue with this strategically, whilst looking at our costs and competition.”
Mr Martin said that if the group “gets it right” it will greatly benefit their employees and enable them to retain outstanding staff and also bring in the highest quality employees they can find.
All qualified staff will be affected – this year 77 staff saw pay increases, the highest (for qualified staff) being 9.5%.
Admin staff, cooks and cleaners saw smaller increases but are paid above the per hour Living Wage value already.
“It is an exciting challenge and one where we can certainly make a huge difference to the longevity of this business,” he added.
Last autumn First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that the Scottish Government’s accredited Living Wage was to rise to £8.45 an hour.
This compares with the legally binding UK Government living wage of £7.20.