To celebrate Living Wage Week (4th–10th November), Benholm Group is proud to reflect on our journey as both a Living Wage and Living Hours accredited employer, demonstrating our commitment to fair pay, stability, and well-being for our team.
Celebrating Living Wage Week 2024
Living Wage Week is a national event spotlighting employers who voluntarily pay a Real Living Wage, calculated independently based on the cost of living. This year’s theme, A Step Beyond, honors the 15,000+ accredited employers across the UK who are going above the government minimum wage to support employees and families. This year, almost half a million workers stand to benefit from the new Living Wage rates, recently updated to £12.60 across the UK and £13.85 in London, adding an annual boost of over £2,200 for full-time workers.
Benholm Group became a Living Wage employer in May, joining a movement that aims to provide workers with security and dignity in a time when 50% of workers on minimum wage report being worse off than last year. By choosing to exceed the legal minimum and provide a Living Wage, we’re supporting our employees’ ability to meet basic living costs, from housing to heating, and contributing to their financial resilience. This approach aligns with our values and commitment to long-term employee satisfaction, enabling us to provide stability and support for our team members’ needs.
Benholm Group: Living Hours Accredited
Beyond fair pay, we became a Living Hours accredited employer in July, reinforcing our commitment to stable working patterns. This standard ensures that staff receive a minimum of 16 hours per week, at least four weeks’ notice for shifts, and contracts that reflect actual hours worked. By adopting Living Hours standards, we’re part of a pioneering group that offers employees not just a fair wage but also reliable scheduling, providing stability that empowers our team to better plan their lives.
Why the Real Living Wage Matters
Unlike the National Living Wage, which is a legal minimum, the Real Living Wage is voluntarily paid by employers committed to truly supporting their teams. Independently calculated by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, this rate is designed to cover the actual costs of living, ensuring that employees are compensated fairly for their efforts.
At Benholm Group, we believe that this commitment strengthens not only our team but also our business and community as a whole. By prioritising fair pay and predictable hours, we’re fostering a motivated workforce that can thrive in both personal and professional spheres. We encourage other businesses to join this movement, supporting economic stability across industries and enhancing the lives of workers and their families.
Looking Ahead
Living Wage Week provides an opportunity to celebrate the progress of this movement and encourage other businesses to join. As we celebrate alongside our team, we look forward to seeing the positive impact of fair pay and stable hours on our staff’s quality of life and on the success of Benholm Group as a whole.
Learn more about our journey with Living Wage and Living Hours, and find out how to get involved with Living Wage Week here. Together, let’s make a positive impact—one fair wage at a time.
We’re Recruiting
We’re currently seeking additional Maintenance Technicians to join our expanding team in Falkirk.
Curious about what it’s like to work with us? Check out this video for a glimpse into a day in the life of a Maintenance Technician at Benholm Group. If you’re passionate about plants and have a can-do attitude, we’d love to hear from you!
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to hr@benholm.com and we’ll be in touch.
