Debt Solutions Firm Carrington Dean Backs Glasgow Living Wage
Glasgow, UK (PRWEB UK) 31 March 2016 -- Carrington Dean, a leading debt advice and solutions company headquartered in Glasgow, has become the latest employer and first debt solutions specialist to back the Glasgow Living Wage initiative which rises to a new higher rate on April 1, the same day the new UK National Living Wage is introduced.
The Glasgow Living Wage, which is a voluntary initiative, increases by £0.40 to £8.25 per hour to take into account increased living costs. The Glasgow Living Wage is £1.05 higher than the mandatory £7.20 per hour UK National Living Wage for workers aged 25 and over which also takes effect from April 1.
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.
Carrington Dean, 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 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.”
NOTES TO EDITOR
Media contact: Valerie Darroch, Director of Communications, Carrington Dean
ValerieDarroch(at)carringtondean(dot)com
07970 737708
Photographs are available to accompany this news story - showing Peter Dean, Managing Director and staff of Carrington Dean receiving an accreditation certificate for the Glasgow Living Wage initiative from Bailie Philip Braat, City Treasurer for Glasgow City Council.
About Carrington Dean
Carrington Dean Group is a privately-owned business headquartered in Glasgow, offering specialist advice and solutions covering a range of financial issues including personal insolvency. Founded and headed by Managing Director Peter Dean, the group includes Your Debt Expert, one of Scotland’s largest independent debt solutions business. Your Debt Expert has helped more than 20,000 people in Scotland to resolve debt problems since the group was established in 2001. A Chartered Accountant and former Partner at a global accountancy firm, Peter is an expert in both personal and corporate debt solutions. Carrington Dean is the largest Payment Distributor for the Debt Arrangement Scheme, the statutory Scottish debt solution.
http://www.carringtondean.com
About Glasgow Living Wage
The Glasgow Living Wage was launched in March 2009 by Glasgow City Council to tackle ‘in-work poverty.’ Glasgow City Council was the first Scottish Local Authority to introduce a guaranteed minimum standard of income for all Council workers and when it was introduced, it resulted in a pay increase for 5,000 of the council’s lowest paid staff. The Glasgow Living Wage will rise to £8.25 from £7.85 on 1 April 2016. A total of 435 employers in Glasgow employing more than 88,000 people have joined the Glasgow Living Wage scheme.
https://www.glasgowlivingwage.co.uk
Patrick Dean, The Carrington Dean Group Limited., https://www.carringtondean.com, +44 7970737708, [email protected]
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