We've been nominated for a national award in recognition of our efforts to promote the Living Wage movement across the Scottish Borders
Details of the nomination
We were shortlisted this week in the Local Champion category at the Living Wage Scotland 2021 awards which celebrates the achievements of accredited employers.
The nomination comes as a result of the work done through the Scottish Borders Living Wage Group, which was formed to take a local approach to encourage more employers to commit to the real Living Wage and ensure more local workers earn enough to meet their everyday needs.
It has since focused its efforts on promoting the benefits of the Living Wage to local employers by encouraging Borders businesses to join the movement, and recently celebrated the accreditation of NHS Borders as a Living Wage employer.
Work being done to promote the Living Wage
The Living Wage Group announced earlier this month an action plan setting out how they will work together to make the Eildon area of the Scottish Borders a recognised Living Wage Place.
The Making Eildon a Living Wage Place campaign brings together an alliance of prominent employers in the Eildon area including Eildon Housing Association, the South of Scotland Enterprise Board (SOSE), Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce and WSZ Joiners to drive uptake amongst the local community.
Recognition as part of the scheme could mark Eildon as the first rural place in the UK to be recognised for their plans to become a Living Wage Place.
At present there are 37 Living Wage accredited employers across the Scottish Borders region, of which 15 of are located in the Eildon area. The Eildon Living Wage Action Group aims to double this number within the first year, and triple this number of accredited Living Wage employers within 18 months.
The Living Wage Scotland 2021 awards ceremony will be held virtually on Friday 19 November at 3pm.
We have been an accredited Living Wage Employer since 2019.
Councillor Robin Tatler, Executive Member for Community Development and Localities and Chair of Scottish Borders Living Wage Group
“It’s an honour to be shortlisted for the Living Wage Scotland Local Champion Award in recognition of the work we do in promoting the Living Wage movement within the Scottish Borders.
“Whilst we’ve made positive strides in raising awareness with local employers, it’s absolutely vital that we continue that momentum and do all we can to support a better quality of life for individuals and families in our communities.
“There is a real opportunity for positive change here and as a result we’ve set out ambitious plans to triple the number of accredited Living Wage employers in the Eildon area within 18 months.”
Councillor Andy Anderson, Chair of the Eildon Living Wage Group
“I’m extremely proud of the efforts of everyone involved in this project in championing the Living Wage across the Scottish Borders.
“My hope is that the Eildon Living Wage Group will also be a part of that change by addressing low pay in the Eildon locality and make a real difference to the standard of living.”