250 Living Wage Employers

More Scots are set to be lifted out of in-work poverty as the Living Wage campaign reaches an important milestone.

A West Lothian nursery is the 250th Scottish organisation to be accredited, with ministers setting a target of having 500 firms signed up by March 2016.

Scotland is well on track to having 500 Living Wage-accredited employers by March 2016.

Four Fife organisations are accredited - they are Citizens Advice and Rights Fife, East Neuk Home Care, Fife Shopmobility and Fife Voluntary Action.

Riverside Cottage Nursery in Bathgate becoming accredited ensured the halfway point was achieved. It comes on the same day that Dumfries and Galloway Council are confirmed as the second accredited local authority in Scotland, after Falkirk.

'No excuse'

Luke Addison, nursery manager said: “We are thrilled to be recognised as a nursery which has fairness and equity for both children and staff deeply embedded in our ethos. We believe that in our changing, growing country, everyone and particularly businesses must take their responsibilities to society seriously. A progressive approach is important to us; we are one of few outdoor nurseries in Scotland and extremely proud to be a Living Wage employer.”

Nursery practitioner Carol Ann added: “It’s wonderful that the nursery is now in a position to pay the living wage. It makes a real difference at the end of the month for my family and reflects that I’m genuinely valued for my work. If this is possible in the childcare sector, there really is no excuse for companies like Amazon to continue paying the minimum wage.”

The Poverty Alliance has been a key campaigner to get more organisations on board. Scottish Director Peter Kelly congratulated both bodies.

“Local authorities play a vital role by setting an example for employers in their area." He said.

“By signing up to the Accreditation Initiative, Dumfries and Galloway Council have ensured that all of their of employees will always get paid at least the Living Wage. Riverside Cottage Nursery’s accreditation as Scotland’s 250th Living Wage employer is an important milestone for the Scottish Living Wage Accreditation Initiative.

“We know that childcare is an area where many women are trapped in low pay but Riverside Cottage Nursery have shown that it is possible for childcare providers to pay the Living Wage and we hope that others will follow suit. It is great to see more and more organisations – of all shapes and sizes – signing up to accreditation and recognising the role of employers in tackling in work poverty.

“We are confident of meeting our target of 500 accredited living wage employers in Scotland."

'Committed to fairness'

Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training Roseanna Cunningham said the Scottish Government is "committed to fairness and supporting those on the lowest incomes." 

She said: “We have been working closely with the Poverty Alliance to encourage employers to seek Living Wage accreditation and I am very pleased that we have already reached the halfway point of our target of 500 by next March.

“Employers big and small are getting involved and all of the staff of Riverside Cottage Nursery in Bathgate can now enjoy the benefits of the Living Wage with the firm also able to publicly formalise its commitment to its staff.

“Recent research shows enhanced productivity, reduced absenteeism and better staff morale to be just some of the potential benefits of the Living Wage. But in order to meet our long-term commitment to those on the lowest pay, we need even more organisations to recognise those benefits and sign up for accreditation.”