A MAJOR beauty salon chain has become the 2000th Living Wage employer in Scotland. 

Pure Spa & Beauty, which has branches in and around Glasgow, will now guarantee staff a minimum hourly pay of £9.50, which is set to benefit around 130 employees across the UK. 

The new rate is higher than the UK Government's minimum wage for over 23s of £8.91 and sees the chain join the likes of SSE, Standard Life Aberdeen, and Barrs in signing up to the Living Wage commitment in Scotland. 

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Pure has also become the first beauty salon chain in the UK to make the pledge.  

Becky Woodhouse, CEO and founder at PURE said: “I am extremely proud of our team and the work that they do, and it has been a long-standing ambition to become a Living Wage employer.

"Our staff are what make PURE a great company, they deliver amazing experiences to our clients every day, so I am delighted to be able to make the Living Wage commitment to them as their employer.

"As an independent female founder who is also a mum of 2, it matters hugely to me that our staff at PURE are recognised for the amazing work that they do and feel supported and empowered in their career at PURE." 

Living Wage accreditation has delivered a pay rise to over 45000 people in Scotland and put over £240 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers. The 2000 milestone signals optimism that businesses, even in sectors hardest hit during the pandemic, are seeking ways to support their workers’ wellbeing with the financial security of a real Living Wage.

Peter Kelly, director of The Poverty Alliance, said: “Congratulations to Pure Spa & Beauty as the 2000th accredited Living Wage employer in Scotland, and the first Spa chain in the UK to make this commitment." 

Richard Lochhead, Scottish Government Fair Work Minister, said: “It is fantastic to see Pure Spa & Beauty, become the 2000th accredited Living Wage Employer in Scotland. This is a significant milestone for them as they join the thousands of other employers who have committed to pay their staff the real Living Wage rate.

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"It is also a significant milestone for the Scottish Living Wage Employer Accreditation Scheme which has seen the network of accredited employers grow from just 14 in 2014 to 2000 today.”