Scottish shoe retailer Beggs Shoes marks 155 years in business with move to paying Real Living Wage
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Sixth-generation shoe retailer, Begg Shoes is marking 155 years in business with a move to paying the real Living Wage for its employees. Significantly higher than the government’s National Living Wage for over 23-year-olds, the company has been accredited by the Living Wage Foundation to provide the only UK wage rate which reflects the cost of living.
Begg Shoes, which has its headquarters in Inverness and nine stores from Perth to Lerwick, is one of the oldest surviving independent shoe retailers in the UK.
It it led by managing director, Donald Begg.
"Our move to the Real Living Wage is a fitting way for us to mark our 155 years in business," he said.
"We are proud to become one of the few bricks and mortar retailers to offer this higher rate of pay.
"The specialist footwear knowledge of our in-store professionals is a big part of our success and longevity.
"We have long felt that our teams are the best in the business. It’s indicative of how we have continuously adapted and invested in our staff over the last two centuries."
Originally established in 1866 by Alexander Begg, the company started life as a modest one-man shoemaker from New Pitsligo.
But despite humble beginnings, the company has grown to become one of the leading independent shoe retailers in the UK, with a history of recognising the value of its people.
In 2013, it expanded considerably with the purchase of five DE Shoes stores which also enabled the retention of 40 jobs.
More recently, the business played a key role in lobbying for government grants during the pandemic to ensure all its stores were retained while also helping to safeguard jobs.
Mr Begg added: "Our move to the Real Living Wage will help ensure our stores continue to operate with a high level of service, and support our growth for many years to come.
"We think our predecessors would be pleased with our vision and investment in people who, since the very start of the business, have helped make our progress possible."
Inverurie store manager, Hayley Dawson said: "I'm delighted that Begg Shoes have become Living Wage Accredited.
"We have an excellent team of loyal, dedicated and knowledgeable people and I'm proud to work for a family run business that values everyone's efforts and rewards them for it."
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland manager, was delighted that Begg Shoes had become an accredited Living Wage employer.
"The Living Wage movement has grown significantly but too many workers employed in the retail sector remain in the grip of low pay, and are struggling to cover their everyday needs," she said.
"There are more than 2400 accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland yet less than five per cent of these employers operate in retail.
"The Living Wage commitment of Begg Shoes is an important demonstration of leadership in tackling low pay in the retail sector."
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