South Wales-based Shine Catering Services has committed to pay its around 50 employees at its in-house fabricating facility the real living wage.
Staff at the family-run business, which has been in operation for almost 50 years and offers a design and build service for professional catering environments, will see their pay increased as a result of the pledge. They will receive a minimum hourly wage of £10.90, which is higher than the government’s national living wage for those aged 23 and above, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour.
The real living wage is set by the Living Wage Foundation and is calculated according to the cost of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that want to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, and is currently at £11.95 for those based in London.
Julian Shine, managing director of Shine Catering Services, said: “We’ve always been proud to be a responsible employer and this pledge is a further demonstration of our commitment to support team members, going above the statutory requirements.
“We recognise it’s a challenging time for many and we’re taking steps to meet the voluntary rate set the Living Wage Foundation. Like most businesses we wouldn’t be where we are today without the people that play a huge part in our success. We want to make sure we’re going above the standard requirements in rewarding them for that.”
According to the Living Wage Foundation, a new increased rate is set to be announced before the end of October, after which employers will have six months to implement the rise if they want to remain an accredited employer.
Shine Catering Services offers its staff an allowance for a car, laptop, iPhone and iPad, along with healthcare benefits.