The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to what people need to make ends meet. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that choose to ensure their staff earn a wage that meets the costs and pressures they face in their everyday lives. Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 460,000 people and put £3 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.

Gail Irvine, Living Wage Scotland Manager said: “We’re delighted that Music at Paxton has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of nearly 3500 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need to thrive. Our Living Wage employer network includes lots of smaller employers as well as larger and iconic brands like SSE, abrdn, Barrs, Mackie’s of Scotland, & D.C. Thomson. We hope to see many more employers following their example.”

The UK Living Wage is currently £12 per hour. This rate is higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour. There is a separate London Living Wage rate of £13.15 per hour. The rates are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in London and the UK.

Accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland span private, public and third sectors. SMEs make up 75% of the total number of employers and more than half of Scotland’s local councils are accredited. Find out more at www.scottishlivingwage.org/accredited