National Grid, which employs more than 12,000 staff in the UK, has been accredited as a living wage employer.
The electricity and gas utility firm has committed to paying all employees and third-party contractors the Living Wage Foundation’s recommended rate of £7.85 an hour, or £9.15 in London.
John Pettigrew (pictured), executive director at National Grid, said: “We already pay our employees above the living wage, but we also want to make sure that those that work on behalf of National Grid are rewarded appropriately.
”We hope to influence our vast supply chain so that the living wage is a compulsory element for all new contracts.
“This is an important principle for us, not just because it is the right thing to do but because, as a responsible business, we believe that everyone should be appropriately rewarded for the vital work we do to safely and reliably connect people to the energy they use.”
The Living Wage Foundation’s rate is calculated according to the current cost of living in the UK. It is distinct from the government’s national living wage of £7.20, which comes into effect for staff aged over 25 in April 2016.