Manufacturer’s pride at becoming Real Living Wage employerTemplate

Midland Lead has spoken of its pride after becoming an accredited Real Living Wage employer.

As part of its commitment to staff, everyone working at its Derbyshire lead recycling facility will receive a minimum hourly wage of £13.45.

This is higher than the UK government’s minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over, which currently stands at £12.71 per hour.

This commitment is particularly significant in the East Midlands, where 17.2% of workers earn less than they need to get by, with more than 348,000 jobs paying below the real Living Wage.

The Living Wage Foundation’s Real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate that is independently calculated based on the cost of living.

It rises annually in line with living costs and gives employers confidence that they are paying a wage that meets daily needs, not just the statutory minimum.

Francoise Derksen, managing director at Midland Lead, which manufactures and supplies lead products, said: “Like many manufacturers, we’re operating in challenging and uncertain times, where balancing the needs of the business with rising costs is not always easy.

“However, by becoming a Real Living Wage Employer we believe we’re doing the right thing by our people.

“It’s an important way for us to support our team, recognise their contribution and reinforce our commitment to being a fair and responsible employer.”

Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that Midland Lead has joined the movement of over 16,000 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.

“These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and believe that everyone needs to be able to live with dignity and have a decent standard of living.”