First Bus says it is delighted to announce that it will become a real Living Wage (RLW) employer from 1 April. The move means that 1,300 members of its staff across the UK will benefit from a rise in wages in line with the new commitment, bringing every employee up to a rate of at least £12 per hour, including workers employed through third party contractors.
Once accredited, First Bus says it will become the UK’s largest national bus operator to make this commitment, cementing its position as an employer of choice in the sector and demonstrating the importance of its workforce as part of its ongoing business transformation aimed at putting colleagues and customers at the heart of its operations.
The RLW, a voluntary rate of pay commitment, offers a wage above the UK Government’s National Living Wage (NLW) standard, which is mandatory for companies to pay to workers aged 23 and over. It is calculated annually and set independently by the Living Wage Foundation, based on actual living costs rather than the median earnings calculations used for NLW.
First Bus will also include its apprentices, raising their wages to the RLW level over the next eighteen months, a move which it says recognises the value it places on a diverse and inclusive apprenticeship population.
First Bus Managing Director Janette Bell said: “We are delighted to be working with the Living Wage Foundation and look forward to achieving our real Living Wage commitment. I am thrilled this will positively impact 1,300 of our colleagues with a pay rise from 1 April and that we are once again demonstrating to our people and the market that we care.
“Engaged employees encourage customers to travel more often. So, by treating our employees well, we are also helping to achieve our mission to get people out of their cars and onto the bus. We want First Bus to be a place where our people feel welcome, can be their true selves and succeed. It is vital that we do all we can to support our colleagues, and this is another important step in our transformation journey.”
Living Wage Scotland Manager Lynn Anderson added: “We’re delighted that First Bus will be accrediting in April, giving a pay rise to hundreds of employees. First Bus will join more than 3,400 Scottish employers and 14,000 Living Wage employers across the UK who are committed to always paying their staff a wage in line with the cost of living. We look forward to welcoming First Bus to the Living Wage movement.”
