Local employers celebrate Living Wage Week

(l-r): Alison Rigby (RBH Customer Access Manager), Ruth Walton (Director, ER Williams Painting Contractors Ltd), Sam Webster (Marketing Apprentice, Hopwood Hall College), Caroline Street (Executive Director, Hopwood Hall College), Elaine Johnson (RBH Head of People Culture and Communications), Aine Graven (RBH Social Value Co-ordinator).

Local living wage employers RBH, E.R. Williams (Painting Contractors) Limited, and Hopwood Hall College came together at RBH's St Alban's House customer centre to celebrate the start of Living Wage Week 2018.

The real Living Wage is based on the cost of living and is voluntarily paid by over 4,700 UK employers who believe a hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay. There are currently five accredited Living Wage employers with their headquarters in Rochdale borough; Kingsway Park High School and Rochdale Online are also accredited employers.

Ruth Walton, Director at E.R. Williams (Painting Contractors) Limited, said: “We believe that paying our workforce the living wage demonstrates our commitment to the local community and economy.

"We are also proud that all our employees live in the Rochdale borough and that we can offer three new apprenticeship opportunities each year.”

Caroline Street, Executive Director at Hopwood Hall College, said: "At Hopwood Hall College we are proud to be an accredited living wage employer. Our college values lead us to ensure that all employees earn a fair wage that allows them to thrive as part of our college and the wider community."

Elaine Johnson, RBH Head of People, Culture, and Communications, said: "As a mutual housing society owned jointly by our tenants and employees, we're determined to live up to both our values and our responsibility to help build the local economy and create new opportunities for local people.

"Paying the real living wage is part of our vision to ensure that our communities are great places to live and work."