Sports and leisure business Levy UK has committed to pay its more than 1,000 employees the real living wage as a minimum from 1 January 2023.
Staff will earn an hourly wage of at least £10.90, which is the real living wage rate for employees across the UK, with those based in London on £11.95 an hour. This is higher than the £9.50 per hour government minimum for those aged 23 and above, and the new national living wage of £10.42, due to be implemented by the government in 2023.
The employer is part of food services organisation Compass Group UK and Ireland, which became real living wage accredited as of this this month. It has worked with more than 300 of its clients over the past two years to move to the rate, resulting in at least 60% of employees being paid at least £10.42 and above as of this year.
Jon Davies, managing director at Levy UK, said: “Our people are the lifeblood of our business, so paying a fair wage, especially in the cost-of-living crisis, is absolutely the right thing to do. We have been working in partnership with our clients over the past two years to move to the position of paying 100% of our workers in the UK the real living wage. We value and care for our people and know that paying it can make a big difference, allowing them to enjoy a more balanced life.”
Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, added: “As the cost of living continues to rise, it’s fantastic to see Levy’s leadership and hard work over the past two years in moving to pay all employees a real living wage. The benefits the living wage brings to workers and businesses alike has never been more important.”
