Renfrewshire Councillor welcomes living wage boost

A local Councillor has welcomed Scotland’s centre for procurement expertise for local government, gaining Living Wage accreditation.

Scotland Excel’s accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation affirms the organisation’s commitment to leading by example on the issue of fair pay.

Councillor Mike Holmes who is Convener of Paisley-based Scotland Excel, said: “I am delighted that Scotland Excel joins the 500 organisations across the country that are accredited Living Wage employers. While Scotland Excel has been a Living Wage employer for some time – gaining formal accreditation demonstrates its commitment to this important issue.

“When Scotland Excel is establishing national frameworks for councils to buy goods and services from, it actively encourages the suppliers on those frameworks to pay the Living Wage. So through public procurement, the organisation helps the Living Wage agenda to gather pace both locally and nationally.

“Paying the Living Wage is the right thing to do for both social and economic reasons. It addresses in-work poverty by letting staff thrive in employment and it means businesses can reap the benefits of having a valued and committed work force.”

The Living Wage is currently set at £8.25.