Stockport Council supports businesses in becoming Real Living Wage accredited and signing up to the Good Employment Charter

Stockport businesses from across the borough have taken the first steps in finding out more about the benefits of becoming a Real Living Wage employer and signing up to the Greater Manchester Employment Charter, at an event hosted today (Friday 23 June), by Stockport Council, as part of Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Week.

Delegates at the event heard from three Stockport businesses: Datesand Ltd, One+all and Stockport Homes, who are already reaping the benefits and attracting a high quality workforce thanks to signing up to both schemes. This was followed by a Q&A session with a panel including representatives from the Living Wage Foundation, Good Employment Charter, as well as Stockport businesses.

The Real Living Wage as set by the Living Wage Foundation, is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living. It is voluntarily paid by over 12,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets their everyday needs. This is currently set at £10.90 an hour for those aged 18+, which is above the government recommended National Living Wage.

Benefits of accreditation include:

• Improves employer brand, boosts staff productivity and motivation
• Helps employers remain competitive, retain existing and attract new staff
• Helps secure contracts and funding
• People want to work for a Living Wage Employer
• People want to buy from and support Living Wage Employers
• Investors want to see employers be more socially responsible

Businesses across Stockport are already benefitting, by pledging their support to the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter, a voluntary membership and assessment scheme which has been created to help deliver good jobs with opportunities for people to progress and develop and contribute to a thriving and productive local economy. Employers can join up as Supporters initially, but can progress to assessed full members should they wish.

Benefits of joining the Good Employment Charter include:

• Show your commitment to paying the Real Living Wage and colleague wellbeing
• Recruit fairly and diversely
• Create a culture of dialogue between your employees
• Peer to peer support
• Access to resources
• Performance improvement
• Network events

The event was held at Bask at the popular Stockport Exchange development, who were also commended for becoming a Real Living Wage Employer.

Cllr Colin MacAlister, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Stockport Council said: “It was fantastic to see so many Stockport businesses wanting to find out more about paying the Real Living Wage and supporting the Good Employment Charter. The council are ready to assist businesses through the process, and as we’ve heard today, by making those first steps, you can create and attract a strong workforce and invest in staff wellbeing, as well as helping to ease some of the financial pressures currently being felt.

“Earning the Real Living Wage has a positive impact on staff, and I’m proud that the council are a Real Living Wage Employer.”

Claire Wood, Director at Datesand Ltd, said: “We are thrilled to be a member of The Good Employment Charter, since joining we have seen real tangible benefits across our business. We have both a happy and thriving workforce and our Customer Surveys are the best yet with 99.6% of our customers happy to recommend us to others. We have had a fantastic level of support and encouragement through being a member. Sharing best practices is common place. We are committed to paying the Real Living Wage and Living hours too as employers need to do everything they can to support our people, especially during the cost of living crisis. Your people benefit and the business does too. We are proud to be able to contribute towards making the city region ‘The Capital of Good Work’.

To find out how your business could benefit from becoming a Living Wage Employer or signing up to the Good Employment Charter, Stockport Council’s dedicated team can help guide you through the process. Contact:goodemployment@stockport.gov.uk or call 07811 061909 during office hours for more information.