Home improvement retailers B and Q and Screwfix, both owned by Kingfisher, have announced that shop floor workers will receive a pay rise to £10.60 from 1 April, an 8.2% and 9.3% increase, respectively.
A higher rate of up to £11.85 per hour will be paid in some UK B and Q locations, in order to reflect market conditions, while staff aged 21 to 22 and 18 to 20 will receive 42 pence per hour and £3.11 per hour more than the national minimum wage.
Meanwhile, the hourly rate for Screwfix employees inside the M25 will increase to £11.75 per hour from 1 April and 43% of service assistant staff receive a location premium per hour. Branch, assistant store and trading sales managers are all eligible for bonuses.
Staff will continue to receive a pension scheme with up to 14% employer contributions, 20% staff discount, enhanced to 30% for energy efficient products, access to shopping discounts with other retailers and entertainment brands, including essential retailers for grocery shopping, and an employee financial assistance programme. Kingfisher also provides share schemes, discounts across various national retailers and access to financial wellbeing app Wagestream.
According to the retailers, this was one of the largest annual increases in recent years, introduced in order to support staff with rising costs and in recognition of their hard work.
A B and Q spokesperson said: “In recognition of their hard work and in order to support our colleagues with the rising costs they face, this year’s pay award is one of our largest annual increases in recent years.
"The total investment of £34 million will be focused on our lower paid colleagues. B and Q colleagues get paid rest breaks and, depending upon shift-pattern and hours worked, can be worth up to 70 pence per hour, equivalent to an additional 6.6% pay.”
