IN a tough sector, paying the real living wage has made one Scottish marketing agency more competitive.
Volpa, which is based in Perth and Dundee, signed up for Living Wage Accreditation three years ago and began to reap the benefits almost immediately, according to founder and CEO Tricia Fox.
“Being accredited, something now that 1293 employers in Scotland have done, made us more competitive,” she said.
“Potential clients like the fact we have such a visible statement of caring for our team and it’s resulted in business on several occasions, including representing the Poverty Alliance who champion the Living Wage in Scotland.”
While many of Volpa’s competitors in tourism and hospitality have been concerned about how increasing pay would hit their bottom line, Fox has had no second thoughts
“We’re in a creative industry; it’s important to have a team focused on delivering exceptional creativity, not being distracted by how they will make ends meet from month to month,” she said.
“Pay conditions tend to be reasonable in the creative industries, but on the lower rungs competition for jobs means it’s common for wages to be considerably below real living wage standards.
“In the case of some interns, there may be no pay at all. That’s just not on. It’s time the creative industry played a leading role in championing the real living wage, by becoming accredited living wage employers and by introducing the idea to their clients.”
Although due to increase in April to £8.21, Fox says the UK Government’s “national living wage” is disingenuous.
“The real living wage is a robust calculation, carried out with input from the public, and one that puts an extra £2000 a year in the pocket of a year in the pocket of low-earning full time workers,” she said.
One Volpa employee who has benefited from the accreditation is a young apprentice who has been training under the Modern Apprenticeship scheme for the last two years. In December her wage rose to the real living wage as she moved to a full-time position.
Fox said: “This was a huge increase for her and I’m not sure who was more excited in that moment – her or me! It has made a significant difference, enabled her to buy and run her first car ... making her feel a valued part of the team.”
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