COST OF LIVING CRISIS: Family-run Scottish business, Inverness-based Begg Shoes, commits to the Real Living Wage movement by paying staff above new rate
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A family-run footwear business based in Inverness has awarded pay rises exceeding the new Real Living Wage rate to help protect living standards for staff.
Begg Shoes, which said the rises represented a 10 per cent increase for the majority of employees, felt it had a responsibility to support staff and their families with inflation leading to a sharp rise in basic living costs.
It comes as the hourly rate of the Real Living Wage is increased today by £1 from £9.90 to £10.90.
The increase is typically announced annually in November but has been brought forward in recognition of increased living costs being felt across the country.
Following a recent bi-annual remuneration review, 32 members of staff at Begg Shoes moved to an hourly rate above £11, with £11 becoming the new entry-level of pay business-wide.
A further 11 members of staff received consequential increases to maintain salary differentials.
In a statement, the company said: "Overall, this represents the majority of employees in the business receiving a pay rise of 10 per cent as part of their ongoing commitment to the Real Living Wage.
"Inflation has led to the basic costs of living rising sharply and Begg Shoes feel it's their responsibility to take action - where possible - to support their staff and their families.
"Price rises are not just confined to energy bills and raising pay to meet these challenges helps to protect the living standards of employees."
The company said since adopting the Real Living Wage in November 2021, it has been strong advocates of the movement within the retail sector.
Managing director Donald Begg said: "Now, more than ever, we feel a sense of pride in our commitment to the Real Living Wage.
"It’s the right thing to do for our business and the hard-working people who have helped build our success story over the years.
"Attracting and retaining the best employees in the retail industry will allow us to continue to offer first class customer service.
"This has always been key to the success of our business.
"The Real Living Wage represents an ambitious standard for the retail industry.
"We have been working hard to innovate and adjust our business model to sustain higher rates of pay, whilst also maintaining the highly valued customer service our customers expect."
Eilidh Crombie, a staff member at Begg Shoes, said: "Working for a Real Living Wage employer like Begg Shoes has provided me with the opportunity to support my family further and in particular my two young children.
"It has also allowed me to remain more relaxed throughout the current cost of living crisis when seeing the increase in my monthly bills, and this has given me the security to continually develop in my role."
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The Real Living Wage is an hourly rate of pay set independently and updated annually by the Living Wage Foundation.
Unlike the UK Government’s minimum wage (National Living Wage for over 23-year-olds), it is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK, and employers choose to pay the Real Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The National Living Wage remains at £9.50 per hour.
Begg Shoes was established in 1866 as shoemaker.
The sixth-generation family-run business has grown and evolved and now has nine independent shoe stores in Scotland.
