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Young workers gain from living wage boost
3rd March 2015

Scottish window, door and building envelope contractor CMS has become one of the first companies in the building and housing industry to embrace the recommended Living Wage.

In line with its ‘employer of choice’ ethos, the company took the decision primarily to help its many younger workers meet the cost of living challenge but it also wanted to create the best quality working environment with greater equality across different roles.

The Living Wage campaign originated in London in 2001 to ease ‘working poverty’ and strengthen families but today it is attracting interest across the UK from ethically-minded, forward thinking employers who recognise the valuable difference that an uplift in the hourly rate makes to employees.

The current Living Wage hourly rate is £7.85 across the UK, apart from London, where there is a slightly higher rate of £9.10 per hour. For some CMS employees, this will see a 17% increase from the lower minimum wage level of £6.50 for adults aged 21 and over and a 50% increase from £5.13 for 18 to 20 year olds.

Andy Kerr, Managing Director of CMS said: “We’re constantly reviewing how the business operates and how we best reward the commitment and dedication of our employees. In recent times however, it has become apparent that younger workers face particular financial pressures that we can help alleviate through the Living Wage initiative.
“Signing up to the Living Wage offers multiple benefits, economically and socially. It is crucial that we continue to attract and retain the best people right across the company and being a Living Wage accredited employer will keep us on this track.

“The initiative also fits extremely well into our broader, long term plans which encourage greater youth employment through the provision of Modern Apprenticeships and our ongoing commitment to skills and training.”

Employing 205 people, CMS operates from a 15-acre modern manufacturing and recycling facility in Castlecary, North Lanarkshire, with additional facilities in Kirkcaldy, Fife. It produces more than 100,000 window units and thousands of square metres of curtain walling every year, and is one of the fastest growing manufacturing businesses in Scotland.

Picture: Sarah Barrie, Accounts Administrator at CMS, one of the younger employees who is benefiting from the company's living wage move.

www.cmswindows.com

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