The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Bright Blue receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.15 - significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.50. The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.
Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. There are currently over 1,500 accredited employers. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
Director of Bright Blue, Ryan Shorthouse, said:
"Bright Blue has been campaigning for a few years for a significant and sensible rise in the National Minimum Wage, as well as for more employers to pay the Living Wage. Its fantastic that these two policies now enjoy cross-party support. And I'm delighted that Bright Blue is playing its role by becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer".