West Midlands biggest private sector employer to pay staff the 'Living Wage'

Central
birmingham
West Midlands
Chris Halpin
Friday 13 March 2015 at 6:23pm

National Express West Midlands Bus Credit: PA

Birmingham-based bus company, National Express West Midlands, has become the biggest private sector employer in the region to say it will pay its workers the living wage.

The operator, which employs 6,500 people, has pledged to pay employees, agency workers and contracted staff a minimum of £7.85 an hour from 2016. The current minimum wage is £6.50 per hour.

According to research carried out last year, 24% of people in the West Midlands are paid below the living wage - that's two per cent higher than the national average.

But from next year that percentage will fall slightly, as more than 340 of the lowest paid staff at National Express will see their pay go up.

Anthony Bell will see his pay rise from 2016 Credit: ITV News Central

One of them is 27-year-old Anthony Bell, who joined the company two and a half years ago after being taken on through the Prince's Trust Apprenticeship scheme.

At first he worked in administration in the Human Resources department, but has recently been promoted to become an Interim Recruitment Officer.

He says the extra money will make a big difference to him.

Eileen Whitmore has worked as a cleaner at National Express West Midlands for 10 years Credit: ITV News Central

Another person who will benefit is grandmother Eileen Whitmore. She's worked as a cleaner in the Acocks Green bus depot for 10 years.

She says the uplift in her pay will mean she can afford more of life's little luxuries.

National Express will be the first private transport group in the UK to become an accredited Living Wage employer, with employees of its coach and rail operations also guaranteed the Living Wage by the end of 2017.

Peter Coates Managing Director of National Express UK Bus said:

Gerard Coyne, Regional Director of Unite Credit: ITV News Central

It's a move which has been welcomed by union Unite, who hope National Express' pledge will encourage other big businesses to follow suit.

The Living Wage Foundation also welcomed the news. Rhys Moore, director, Living Wage Foundation said:

The current National Minimum Wage is £6.50 per hour - the Living Wage is £7.85 per hour. Credit: PA

Figures from the Living Wage Foundation show that 1248 employers across the country are signed up to pay staff £7.85 an hour.

Forty-eight of those are in the West Midlands. According to KPMG research carried out last year 494,000 in the West Midlands were paid below living wage, equivalent to 24% of the working population and 2% higher than national average, with Staffordshire Moorlands and Tamworth at 33% and Wyre Forest at 32%.