The Government’s new minimum wage: the ‘National Living Wage,’ is being implemented across the country this month. Employers are now legally obliged to pay £7.20 per hour to all employees aged over 25. Frome Town Council, Chamber of Commerce and Fair Frome are working together to support local businesses during this transition.
All Frome businesses are invited to attend a free event in the Cornerhouse at 6pm on 26 April, to discuss the effects of the recent changes and ways in which the living wage can benefit the area’s industrial and economic performance. This is the second in a new series of ‘Discuss and Do’ evenings run by Frome Chamber of Commerce and Frome Town Council, taking place on the fourth Tuesday of every month.
April’s event will focus on the experiences of local enterprises who have already adopted the National Living Wage and will be an invaluable opportunity for knowledge-sharing.
Prior to the recent change in legislation, The Living Wage Foundation have been campaigning since 2011 for businesses who can afford to pay a rate that reflects the real cost of living to do so. The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently from government and is based on the cost of living. It is currently £8.25 outside of London. Amy Hulme, Programme Manager at the Living Wage Foundation will be presenting their work and research into the benefits of being an accredited Living Wage employer.
Amy Hulme says: “Good employers are raising wages responsibly and recognise that their employees deserve a wage they can live on and not just survive on. By voluntarily choosing to pay above the legal minimum rates, employers are demonstrating that they value their employees and are seeing significant benefits for their organization as a result”.
32.3% of employees in Mendip are earning less than the real living wage. The event will raise some of the issues around this and aim to encourage local employers who already are paying the real living wage or would aspire to, to come forward and work together to increase the benefits for all of them by becoming accredited. 70% of customers would prefer to shop at living wage employers; if you have ideas on how to capitalise on this or you’d like to hear more about a local living wage campaign, please come along to the Cornerhouse on Tuesday 26 April at 6pm.
To register your attendance please contact Simon Williams of the Chamber of Commerce simon@fhaccountants.co.uk or Mark Brookes of Frome Town Council brookesm@frometowncouncil.gov.uk you can also register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/discuss-do-the-living-wage-tickets-24506404315
