Gripple, the Sheffield-headquartered, employee-owned manufacturer of wire joiners and tensioners and suspension solutions for agriculture, construction, solar and infrastructure, is celebrating being accredited to the Living Wage Foundation, demonstrating its commitment to fair pay for employees.  (Living Wage Week is 6th to 12th November 2023)

To become accredited, Gripple had to demonstrate that all its employees, plus contractors, received the Real Living Wage of £10.90 for over 18s, which is a calculation of the cost of living, based on a basket of household goods and services. This figure is above both the Government’s minimum wage (£10.18 for over 21s), and the National Living Wage (£10.42 for over 23 years). At the same time, Gripple’s sister company Loadhog, which specialises in returnable packaging solutions, has also become a Living Wage Employer.

The Real Living Wage rate, that Gripple and Loadhog offers, is higher as it is independently calculated based on what people need to meet the costs of living, not just the government minimum. When the Living Wage rates are increased, accredited employers like Gripple and Loadhog are required to increase employee wages in line with this within six months.

Kevin St Clair, Managing Director, Gripple UK & Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be accredited to the Living Wage Foundation, which clearly demonstrates our commitment to our people as an employee-owned business. With recent cost of living increases, we wanted to reaffirm that our wages are in line with rising costs, for the benefit of our people now and in the future.”

Kevin adds: “We also offer a pension scheme which far exceeds that offered by most businesses, another great reason for people to work at Gripple!”

Katherine Chapman, Director of Living Wage Foundation: “We welcome the news that Gripple and Loadhog have committed to being Living Wage employers.  They join 13,000 other businesses across the UK who believe their staff deserve a wage which meets everyday needs. Businesses which pay the Real Living Wage usually find that they have a more loyal, more motivated workforce, which results in greater productivity, efficiency and retention, which is a win-win for businesses and their people.” 

The Living Wage Foundation is at the heart of the independent movement of businesses and people that campaign for the idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. The organisation celebrates and recognises the leadership of responsible employers who choose to go further and provide a decent standard of living by paying the real Living Wage, adopting Living Hours and Living Pensions as well as wider good employment practices.

Over 400,000 employees have received a pay rise as a result of the Living Wage campaign and accredited employers include Nationwide, Google, LUSH, Everton FC and Chelsea FC, plus FTSE 100 companies and SMEs.