The Nottingham-based company’s Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Eight Group receive a minimum hourly wage of £12 in the UK, higher than the government minimum for over 21s, which currently stands at £11.44 per hour.
Eight Group is based in the East Midlands, a region where more than 15.7% of workers earn less than they need to get by, with over 299,000 jobs paying less than the real Living Wage.
The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum.
Since 2011, the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to more than 460,000 people and put £3bn extra into the pockets of low paid workers.
Sharing the news on LinkedIn yesterday (19 September), Eight Group said: “We’re proud to announce that Eight Group is now officially a Living Wage Employer! We don’t shy away from the fact that our best asset is our team! From their knowledge and expertise to consistently going above and beyond, they’re the driving force behind everything we do.
“We’ve now formalised our commitment to ensure everyone at Eight Group earns a rate that reflects the cost of living. Meaning our team is well-supported, motivated, and focused on delivering the best possible service to our customers – because happy staff create happy clients!”
Eight Group CEO Lance Hill added: “It was an easy decision to become an accredited Living Wage employer as our commitment to being a responsible business is part of our DNA and it also aligns well with our certified B Corp status.”
Katherine Chapman, director at Living Wage Foundation, also commented: ”We’re delighted that Eight Group has joined the movement of over 14,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.
“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like Eight Group, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”
While the UK Living Wage is currently £12 per hour there is also a separate London Living Wage rate of £13.15 per hour to reflect the higher costs of transport, childcare, and housing in the capital.
These figures are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in London and the UK.
