NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is using its commitment to the real Living Wage and its status as an anchor organisation to improve pay and living standards for thousands of people throughout Scotland.
NHSGGC gained Living Wage Employer status in November 2020, setting an example for public sector bodies and employers across Scotland.
The real Living Wage is more than just an hourly rate – it represents the belief that everyone deserves a decent standard of living and the ability to support themselves and their families. In Scotland the rate is £13.45 per hour, applying to all directly employed and regularly contracted third-party staff aged 18 and over.
And as part of NHSGGC’s accreditation, the health board committed to ensuring all its partner organisations and suppliers paid the real Living Wage too.
Nicola Bailey, Deputy Director of Human Resources at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Since 2020 NHSGGC has been committed to paying the real Living Wage across our organisation – but our commitment does not stop there.
“Our health board has an annual trade spend of more than £900 million with third-party suppliers, and by ensuring that these partner organisations also pay the real Living Wage we can use our influence as an anchor organisation to help reduce in-work poverty, support families and bring real benefits to entire communities across Scotland.
“NHSGGC is also one of the key members of the Making Glasgow City Region A Living Wage Place Action Group, working collaboratively with other employers from the public, private and third sectors to encourage and support more businesses to become Living Wage accredited, resulting in wage uplift for as many workers as possible.
“These important commitments are just some of the many ways that NHSGGC is working beyond healthcare to improve the wellbeing of the communities we serve.”
In its role as an anchor organisation, NHSGGC is committed to acting on behalf of the communities and local areas it serves, ensuring its property and assets positively benefit the population of Greater Glasgow and Clyde and beyond.
The Scottish Government’s Fair Work First policy, which requires organisations receiving government funding to pay at least the real Living Wage, has played a crucial role in driving up standards. However, the overwhelming reason employers join the Living Wage movement is a strong sense of moral purpose – a belief in the value of their workforce and the benefits to business, community and the wider economy.
To find out more about procurement within NHSGGC, go to: Procurement – NHSGGC
To find out more about the real Living Wage, go to: For the real cost of living | Living Wage Foundation
