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There are just over 60 employers paying staff the real living wage in Devon and Cornwall, figures show.

The number of businesses signed up with The Living Wage Foundation, campaigners for the Real Living Wage of £8.45 an hour (£9.45 in London) for over 18s, is 46 in Devon and 24 in Cornwall.

And today - the start of Living Wage Week - it has been announced that the voluntary figure, independently-calculated based on what people need to get by, will go up by 30p to £8.75 around the UK, and up 45p to £10.20 in London.

DCH, which has more than 920 staff across the region said that paying the real Living Wage is about investing in its staff and the region.

Sheila Whelan Group Director of People and Communications at DCH said: “Paying the Living Wage is the right thing for us to do as an employer, as a member of the business community and for our employees. “Supporting the Living Wage Foundation in its objectives also helps to encourage best practice amongst other organisations to implement a living wage.”

Today’s increase has been largely driven by the effects of higher inflation on goods and services, with rising private rents and transport costs also having an impact.

The announcements come after new research published by KPMG yesterday showed that 5.5 million people across the UK are still paid less than the real Living Wage, that’s 1 in 5 workers, 21% of the UK workforce.

Among the Devon employers paying staff at least £8.45 an hour is Plymouth-based Social Enterprise Mark CIC, an accreditation social enterprise authority.

Managing Director Lucy Findlay said:“We proudly fly the flag to ensure that employees can actually live on what they earn, no matter where they live or how old they are.

We are committed to paying a fair wage that meets the real cost of living. As an accreditation body ourselves, it’s important to get the proper recognition for this, and we are pleased to be working with the Living Wage Foundation to highlight the need for transparent accreditation via our #GoBeyondTheBadge campaign.”

The Real Living Wage is not to be confused with the Government’s National Living Wage for over 25s of £7.50 an hour or the National Minimum Wage - of £7.05 an hour for under 25s that all employers must now pay by law.

Tim Jones, Chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said that the rise in the statutory wage had not had the ‘dire consequences’ that were first predicted.

He said: “There has been some difficulty for businesses who are operating right at the bottom of the wage scale in agriculture and tourism.

“However, the economy has been on the side of the tourism sector with the effect of the weak pound bringing in more visitors to the area.

“My feeling is that businesses are now getting over the transition phase and the dire predictions that were first made have not happened.

“In fact, we are now seeing the positive effects of ensuring employees have more money in their pockets, particularly in the retail sector where people have more to spend in the shops.

“It is also good for businesses in terms of staff retention and avoiding the expense of a high turnover of staff in terms of training and recruitment.”

The employers in Devon and Cornwall join 3,600 across the UK including national names like Lidl, Morrisons, EDF and KPMG which also have stores and offices in the region and have pledged to pay the higher wage.

Heléna Holt, Chief Executive of Devon Air Ambulance, which has pledged to pay the Real Living Wage to its 85 employees, said: “We are committed to recruiting, training and retaining the best staff who in turn do their very best for the people of Devon. Our employees all know that, whatever their role, they are helping to keep Devon's Air Ambulances flying. Our employee engagement surveys and low staff turnover show this approach is working.”

Living Wage Foundation Director, Katherine Chapman said:

“The new Living Wage rates announced today will bring relief for thousands of UK workers being squeezed by stagnant wages and rising inflation. It’s thanks to the leadership of over 3,600 employers across the UK who are committed to paying all their staff, including cleaners and security staff, a real Living Wage.

“Great businesses know that, even during these tough times, not only is fair pay the right thing to do but paying the real Living Wage brings big benefits. Nine out of ten accredited Living Wage employers report real benefits including improved retention, reputation, recruitment and staff motivation.”

Devon independent employers accredited by the Living Wage Foundation

Axminster:

Axminster Tools and Machinery

Barnstaple:

DC/DC Power, Com Gen, Friend Electrical

Bideford:

Bideford Town Council

Northern Devon Foodbank

Brixham:

United Reformed Church

Broadclyst:

Broadclyst Parish Council

Clyst St Mary:

Trinity Fire & Security Services, Clyst St Mary

Exeter:

The Beer Cellar

Garland Support and Training Ltd

uCheck

The Prospect Inn

Paperchain

Devon Air Ambulance Trust

Kaleider

Van Man Removals and Storage Ltd

DCH

LaddersFree Window Cleaning

Honiton:

BakeryBits Limited

Cosmic

Kingsbridge:

Bartons Solicitors

Newton Abbot:

Cleverfox Design & Marketing

Tiverton:

Helen Moore Ltd

Ottery St Mary:

East Devon Law Legal Consultants

Paignton:

SDK Environmental

Plymouth:

CATERed Ltd

Delt Shared Services Ltd

Plymouth Community Homes

Social Enterprise Mark CIC

Union Glass Centres

Torquay:

Essential 6 Ltd

love2care

Haytor Hotel

Torrington:

Torrington Health Centre

Upstairs Downstairs housekeeping

Totnes:

Naturesave Insurance

New Lion Brewery

Yelverton:

Upstairs Downstairs Housekeeping

NATIONAL COMPANIES:

Ashburton:

Lloyds Banking Group

Barnstaple:

Majestic Wines

A-Plant

Oxfam

Nationwide Building Society

Lloyds Banking Group

Santander UK

Pearson Plc - Pearson Vue

Bideford:

Santander UK

Oxfam

Nationwide Building Society

Bovey Tracey:

Lloyds Banking Group

Braunton:

Lloyds Banking Group

Budleigh Salterton:

Lloyds Banking Group

Chagford:

Lloyds Banking Group

Chumleigh:

Lloyds Banking Group

Cullompton:

Lloyds Banking Group

Dawlish:

Lloyds Banking Group

Exeter:

Pearson Plc -Pearson Vue

Oxfam

Santander UK

Lloyds Banking Group

Lush

A-Plant & A-Plant Lux

Majestic Wine

Exmouth:

Oxfam

Nationwide Building Society

Holsworthy:

Lloyds Banking Group

Honiton:

Santander UK

Lloyds Banking Group

Ilfracombe:

Lloyds Banking Group

Nationwide Building Society

Kingsbridge:

Lloyds Banking Group

Oxfam

Lynton:

Lloyds Banking Group

Newton Abbot:

Nationwide Building Society

Lloyds Banking Group

Santander UK

Co-operative Bank

Ottery St Mary:

Lloyds Banking Group

Paignton:

Santander UK

Nationwide

Lloyds Banking Group

Plymouth:

Santander UK

Nationwide Building Society

Lush

Co-operative Bank

Lloyds Banking Group

Pearson Plc - Pearson Vue

Sidmouth:

Oxfam

Lloyds Banking Group

South Molton:

Lloyds Banking Group

Teignmouth:

Oxfam

Lloyds Banking Group

Tiverton:

Majestic Wines

Nationwide Building Society

Lloyds Banking Group

Torquay:

Lloyds Banking Group

Santander UK

Nationwide Building Society

Oxfam

Pearson Plc - Pearson Vue

Torrington:

Lloyds Banking Group

Nationwide Building Society

Totnes:

Oxfam

Santander UK

Majestic Wine

Lloyds Banking Group