Debt solutions firm Carrington Dean backs Glasgow Living Wage

Glasgow-based debt advice and solutions company Carrington Dean has become the first debt solutions specialist and the latest employer in the city to back the Glasgow Living Wage initiative which rises to a new higher rate of £8.25 this week.

The move comes as a new new mandatory National Living Wage (NLW) comes into force across the UK today, requiring employers to pay workers aged 25 and over at least £7.20 an hour.

The Glasgow Living Wage, which is a voluntary initiative, increases by £0.40 today to take into account increased living costs and means it will be £1.05 higher than the new mandatory UK National Living Wage.

The Glasgow Living Wage is for workers aged 25 and over which will be also be introduced for the first time today.

Carrington Dean which employs 60 people in Glasgow, received its accreditation to the Glasgow City Council initiative from Bailie Philip Braat, treasurer for Glasgow City Council.

The company, which has just relocated to new premises in West George Street from Buchanan Street, has also agreed to become an ambassador for the scheme.

Carrington Dean made the decision to back the Glasgow Living Wage to underline the firm’s commitment to its own staff and to signal support for the Glasgow City Council initiative which helps to tackle ‘in-work’ poverty which affects an estimated one-in-five employees in Scotland.

The firm, which has helped more than 20,000 families in Scotland to resolve problem debt since the firm was founded by Peter Dean in 2001, is one of the largest independent debt advice and solutions companies in Scotland.

The company, which also has Investors in People accreditation, already met the criteria for the Glasgow Living Wage, with a number of the firm’s employees, including qualified financial professionals, earning significantly higher salaries.

Carrington Dean managing director Peter Dean said: “Poverty and debt remain significant problems for many families in Glasgow. There are many reasons why people may be struggling with debt, but having a job which pays a proper living wage is an important element in helping people deal with unaffordable debt.”

He added: “We make a significant investment in training to ensure that all our staff provide consistently high quality advice to people seeking help with unaffordable debt. As a responsible employer supporting skilled jobs we believe it is important to support the Glasgow Living Wage initiative. It is not only a good thing to do, it is the right thing to do and we would encourage other employers to support this initiative.

Glasgow City Council was the first Scottish Local Authority to introduce a living wage for all of its staff in 2009. A total of 435 employers collectively employing more than 88,000 people in the city have signed up to the Glasgow Living Wage initiative. The council is now working to secure commitments from as many employers as possible to paying the new higher wage which takes effect on April 1.

Bailie Philip Braat, City Treasurer for Glasgow City Council said: “We are delighted that Carrington Dean is supporting the Glasgow Living Wage initiative. We are particularly pleased that a company which has first-hand knowledge of the financial problems many of our citizens face, is supporting us as an ambassador. Glasgow City Council led the way in Scotland in tackling ‘in work poverty’ among council employees and we are committed to encouraging more private sector employers to support the initiative. It delivers benefits for employers because it helps them to retain staff and it is good for employees because they feel valued by their employer.”