Accredited Living Wage Employer the Kingdom Group, consisting of Kingdom Housing Association, Kingdom Initiatives and Kingdom Support and Care, based in Glenrothes, Fife, has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the Living Wage campaign. At the February Board meeting the decisions confirming that the Group will implement the latest Real Living Wage rate from 1st April 2020, were taken.

Research by KPMG has found there are 380,000 jobs in Scotland, or 17%, still paying less than the real Living Wage. Despite this, the Kingdom Group has committed to implement the real Living Wage of £9.30 per hour and deliver a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work.

Bill Banks, Kingdom Group Chief Executive said: “One of our strategic objectives at Kingdom is to be an employer of choice so the rates we pay reflect the importance we place on our people. Being an accredited Living Wage employer is really important for us as it signals, not only to our staff, but also to the wider community, that Kingdom is now, and will always continue to be, a socially responsible organisation.”

Bill added, “Being based in Glenrothes, we’re also proud to be part of the ‘Making Glenrothes a Living Wage Town’ campaign. Glenrothes is the first Town in the UK to be awarded recognition for the plan to become a Living Wage Town and Kingdom will do all it can to highlight the importance of being part of the Living Wage movement.”

Peter Kelly Director of the Poverty Alliance said: “The real Living Wage is a vital component in the fight against in-work poverty. Workers need a wage that reflects the cost of living, but too many workers across Scotland are locked into poverty. That’s why it’s more important than ever for leading employers to join the growing movement of businesses and organisations that are going further than the UK Government minimum and making sure their employees earn enough to cover the cost of living.”