Brian Weir – Moray School Bank Chair of Trustees. Pictured on the day offering support to the making of the Real Living Wage video. (See link below.)

This year Moray School Bank embarked on gaining accreditation as a living wage employer in Scotland.  Our initial plans had to be put on hold as we dealt with the urgent needs of the community throughout last year. However, earlier this summer we resumed our plans and went through the simple process of getting accredited.

So, what does this mean for Moray School Bank?

It means that we are part of a movement to pay at least £9.90 per hour for all staff and contractors over the age of 18.  We are delighted to be accredited alongside championing a fair wage for those that are employed in Moray, alongside the Living Wage Foundation’s goal of pushing for larger changes nationally.

In October we were shortlisted as a finalist in the Living wage employer awards for 2021 for all the work that we have accomplished. At the award ceremony in November, we were granted the award for Local Champion in light of all the work that has been done to support the living wage concept.

Richard Lochhead MSP for Moray said:

”I was delighted to see the Moray School Bank team pick up this award and for them to be recognised for their phenomenal efforts in promoting the real living wage.

”I’ve long admired the work of the school bank for the work they do to tackle poverty in Moray and I’m grateful to them for all they do to support families in our local communities.”

Debbie Kelly – Project Coordinator, receiving the Local Champion Award on behalf of Moray School Bank.

We believe in raising awareness for this movement, and that we advocate for the increase in the standard living wage in Moray as well as supporting businesses and organisation’s to join and begin paying fairer wages to their employees.

The Living Wage Foundation aims to reach as far as possible in promoting the possibility of more Living Wage employers in the entirety of the United Kingdom; the movement is not just for Scotland alone.

What are the benefits to employers?

Employers have the ability to attract staff knowing that for their efforts in pushing for a fairer wage, it helps with employee motivation and attendance, whilst it also encourages and improves the retention of staff.  It is a way of showing people in Moray that you care about paying your staff a fair wage and that you value them, no matter what their age, ethnicity or background is.

Our next steps are to work with the Moray Council and some large anchor organisation’s – as well as some smaller organisation’s – to create a living wage place where we can raise the bar for fair employment and put Moray on the Real Living Wage MAP!”

If you want to find out more about becoming a Real Living Wage employer in Scotland, or to sign up please go to https://www.scottishlivingwage.org

To watch our video highlighting the Real Living Wage in Moray and why employers would benefit from signing up click here https://youtu.be/2xsYiLskfjY