Bristol Airport has achieved Real Living Wage accreditation as it hopes to create a further 5,800 jobs.
The South West transport hub has been awarded the accreditation from the Real Living Wage Foundation, an independent organisation that champions fair pay for all.
The Real Living Wage, currently £10.90 and £11.95 in London per hour, is higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £10.42 per hour. Currently, more than 12,000 UK businesses voluntarily pay their colleagues the higher award.
The Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage are both set by the government, whereas the Real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the cost of living. Annual rates are calculated by the Resolution Foundation based on a basket of everyday goods, and overseen by the Living Wage Commission.
Bristol Airport and each of our business partners on site have committed to paying the real living wage as a minimum, and not the lower rates calculated by the government.
Debbie Hartshorn, people director, Bristol Airport said: “Bristol Airport is central to the economy of the South West - currently supporting almost 4,000 direct jobs, and around 23,000 jobs across the wider region - and as we expand capacity from 10m passengers per annum to 12m passengers per annum we are projected to add a further 5,800 jobs.
"We have a responsibility to ensure that these roles are attractive to candidates and are fairly rewarded, and are delighted to have attained Real Living Wage accreditation ahead of the deadline we set for ourselves."
The airport announced earlier this year that it plans to open two new executive lounges this summer. In the past few months it has opened its first-ever Boots retail store following £4m refurbishment of departure lounge and a Caffè Nero, which created 15 new jobs.
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