Celebrating the work of local employers

We focus on their experience of the accreditation process and the impact of this on their workers, and organisation, so far

Carrick Home Services

Carrick Home Services is an independent, family run care at home provider based in the east of Edinburgh. The organisation has been an accredited Living Wage employer for over six years. This is built into the culture and values of the company, which prioritise staff wellbeing.

The team at Carrick Home Services emphasize the importance of carers receiving a fair wage that is enough to live on, particularly given the challenging and demanding nature of their work.

Paying the Real Living Wage has brought other benefits for the organisation such as supporting attraction and recruitment of staff and building trusting relationships with employees.  

Maintaining Living Wage accreditation has not always been easy, particularly as many other factors influence wages within social care such as national and local government funding. However, Carrick Home Services has always remained committed to ensuring that their workers are paid a fair wage. This is particularly critical in Edinburgh, in which the cost of living is often very high. 

Andrea, Director of Carrick Home Services, reflected that: "Every employer in Edinburgh should pay the Real Living Wage.”

The Living Hours Scheme at Mercat Tours

Mercat Tours is an Edinburgh based, award-winning and family run storytelling and walking tour business. Fair Work is built into the core values of the organisation. The Managing Director of Mercat Tours, Kat Brogan, is co-chair of our action group, and the organisation has achieved Living Wage, Living Hours and BCorp accreditations.

Kat reflected that paying the Real Living Wage and providing secure, guaranteed work with reasonable notice periods (as required by the Living Hours accreditation) is vital to support a happy, diverse team to thrive.

The impact of confirming shifts and honouring income with four weeks’ notice is proven to benefit low-income, single parents and working mothers in particular. This can be celebrated with the Living Hours accreditation, which helps boost recruitment and appeal of the sector. 

Kat commented: “Offering well-paid secure work ensures long-term viability and a happy, secure team that thrives as part of your broader local community as the investment ripples to benefit all.

For Mercat Tours, the Living Wage and Living Hours accreditation has helped to secure 76% team retention, 96% team satisfaction and an absence rate of under 2%. This proves the positive impact of investing in your team - for individuals, team and community.”

Kat also shared some reflections and learnings from her experience of the accreditation process: “First steps include understanding the Real Living Wage uplift and budgeting to benefit your team. Next, planning ahead to ensure that the Real Living Wage uplift can be maintained and guaranteed year on year is essential to offer stability for both the team and business.”

The Lines Between

The Lines Between is a social research agency based in Edinburgh and has been Living Wage accredited since 2016. The organisation has also recently accredited as both a Living Hours and Living Pensions employer and has been shortlisted for a Living Wage Award for their Living Pensions work.

Fair Work sits at the heart of the company culture at The Lines Between. As a social research agency, they believe in promoting socio-economic wellbeing and reducing inequality, both through their work with clients and through their role as an employer.

Not only do they have multiple employer accreditations, but they also prioritise the training and development of staff members and have built a culture of respect and listening among their staff. Embedding Fair Work and the Living Wage into their company has had many positive impacts including supporting staff wellbeing, enabling recruitment of talented new staff members, and attracting new work opportunities.

Abigail, Senior Researcher, commented: “Fair Work and the Living Wage aligns with what we’re all about.”