At Calabash we have always recognised that staff are our greatest asset and our commitment to pay the Living Wage is boosting the bottom line of people, profit and planet. Over the last 12 months we have worked hard at communicating the benefits of fair remuneration and 93% of our clients have now committed to the rate. The transition is not only improving our ESG credentials but helping us gain competitive advantage by attracting and retaining the best talent.
We are passionate about having a positive social impact and securing sustainable growth by valuing the people who work for us. Our success as a business is down to our commitment to customer service and exceeding customer expectations. We can only do that thanks to our trained and dedicated workforce. They deserve to be paid a fair wage.
In April 2023 we committed to paying The London Living Wage to help ensure the salaries we pay can help people meet the real cost of living. We have worked hard at engaging with our clients over the last few months to share the benefits and encourage them to come on board. We are proud that 93% of our clients have signed up.
The UK Living Wage is now set at £12, and the London Living Wage has recently risen to £13.15. It is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living and is voluntarily paid by more than 14,000 UK businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs.
The rate is above the government’s National Living Wage and applies to all workers over 18. It is independently calculated by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the independent Living Wage Commission (LWC). It is based on the cost of a basket of goods needed for a decent standard of living, including essentials like food, housing, childcare and transport.
For Calabash, paying a living wage is not only aligned with the ESG values at the core of our sustainability strategy but it makes commercial sense. The Resolution Foundation surveyed its accredited Living Wage Employers and found that:
More than half of employers said paying a real Living Wage has improved the quality of applications for jobs and over a third reported that it helped them secure contracts and funding.
We have already seen the business benefits of making the commitment. The facilities management sector faces a war on talent and skills shortages are one of the greatest challenges for businesses large and small. Paying the rate has helped us attract the best people and, just as importantly, retain them. This is highly valued by our existing customers and is helping us win tenders with new ones.
There is growing awareness across the sector that offering decent salaries and working conditions makes business sense and builds resilience in a highly competitive market. As well as paying a living wage, Calabash also looks after staff by avoiding zero hours contracts and doing all we can to ensure people feel valued.
We want to drive that rate of 93% of participating clients up even further and call on others across the facilities management sector to follow suit. All employers have a responsibility to provide fair pay and conditions. We will continue to drive positive social impact and be a force for good as we continue our sustainability journey.
Company No: 02764589 | Registered address: The Coach House, Powell Rd, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, United Kingdom, IG9 5RD | VAT No. GB609134553
