Latest news with #RealLivingWage
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Aldi to remain best paying supermarket with major change to all UK stores
Aldi employees will see the change come into effect in September no matter where they work in the UK. Aldi is set to make a big change that will help continue their legacy of being the best paying supermarket in the UK. As of September 2025, the budget grocer will be making a permanent change to all of their UK stores. With a new minimum work rate to be put in place, Aldi will be the first supermarket to pay its workers "at least £13 an hour", with the move set to come into place in a matter of weeks. Set to take effect from September 1, the popular German supermarket will increase the wages of its staff, with some parts of London receiving a pay increase of up to £14.33. Currently, workers in London earn a wage of £14.05 an hour. This is a bit higher than the current nationwide wage for Aldi workers, which sits at £12.75 per hour. This is already higher than the Real Living Wage - £12.60 - which was set last October by the Living Wage Foundation. With the new baseline being set "at least £13", Aldi store assistants could also see their pay rise further based on the length of their service to the company. This means that staff across the UK could see a pay hike to £13.93, while parts of London could rise to £14.64, reports the Mirror. On top of this, Aldi is the only supermarket to offer their workers paid breaks, which tallies up to approximately £1,385 per year for the average staff member. Giles Hurley, chief executive officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: "Our people are the driving force behind our success across the UK. This latest investment in pay is a reflection of their hard work and the incredible contribution they make every single day. "We're proud to remain the UK's highest-paying supermarket and will continue to support our colleagues in every way we can." This pay change follows on from Aldi recently being named the Employer of the Year at The Grocer Gold Awards. This title recognises the companies investment in training, focus on inclusion and diversity and their promise of competitive pay. On top of this, the budget supermarket is also making plans to expand further across the UK, with over 115 locations under consideration for new stores.. So if Aldi is currently the UK's best paying supermarket, how do the other retailers compare? As of April this year, the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage were increased. For those under 18, workers can now be paid at least £7.55, while those aged between 18 and 20 can now get paid a minimum of £10. For everyone else aged 21 and over, the minimum wage jumped from £11.44 an hour to £12.21. Information collated by The Grocer has revealed the best paying supermarkets in the UK following after Aldi: For those looking for a job and are enticed by being paid for your breaks and earning a competitive wage, as of July 29, Aldi has over 730 job listings for store assistants across the UK, with many of them available in Scotland. The job description reads: "You'll do everything from checking off deliveries to dealing with enquiries or ensuring that the shelves are fully stocked with well-presented products. "And, of course, you'll provide excellent customer service at all times by attending to customer needs in a prompt and friendly way. "It's a really fast-paced environment, and everyone understands exactly what needs to happen to make their store a success – and gets on with doing it. There's a real family feel here, and we all pitch in as part of a close-knit team." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Aldi announces major update for all its members of staff in 'supermarket first'
The supermarket has announced its latest pay increase for staff, which will come into effect from September 2025 Aldi is set to become the first supermarket to pay store assistants at least £13 an hour. The grocer has announced its latest pay increase for staff, which will come into effect from September 2025. London staff within the M25 will earn at least £14.33. Based on their length of service, long-serving staff will see their pay rise to £13.93 nationally and £14.64 inside London. Aldi store assistants are currently paid a minimum of £12.75 an hour nationwide, and £14.05 an hour within the M25. The new minimum rate further exceeds the Real Living Wage of £12.60 an hour that was set by the Living Wage Foundation in October last year. The Real Living Wage is a voluntary pay for workers over the age of 18, whose employer is signed up to the Living Wage Foundation. Aldi says it is also the only retailer to offer all colleagues paid breaks, which is worth approximately £1,385 a year for the average store colleague. Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer, Aldi UK and Ireland, said: 'Our people are the driving force behind our success across the UK. This latest investment in pay is a reflection of their hard work and the incredible contribution they make every single day. 'We're proud to remain the UK's highest-paying supermarket and will continue to support our colleagues in every way we can.' It comes after the supermarket published an updated list of priority locations across the UK where it wants to open new stores. Aldi has more than 1,050 stores and is working towards a long-term target of 1,500. This latest expansion is part of a £650million investment this year. Each site should be able to accommodate a 20,000 sq ft store with around 100 parking spaces and ideally be near a main road with good visibility and access. The supermarket is also on the lookout for sites to accommodate its Aldi Local store format in Central London in zones one and two, which typically have a minimum size of 5,000 sq ft of trading space, along with an additional 3,000 sq ft of ancillary space. Ten new stores will open in summer including Caterham in Surrey, Sheffield in South Yorkshire, and Fulham Broadway in London. Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, said: 'At Aldi, our goal is to ensure everyone has access to high-quality food at unbeatable prices, and we're committed to achieving that with our ambitious store opening plans. 'We're targeting 40 new store openings in 2025, while many of our current stores will also be getting a refresh to enhance the customer experience, meaning we can consistently offer the best value for money to even more shoppers across the UK.'
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Aldi set to be first UK supermarket to pay assistants at least £13 an hour
Aldi also remains the only supermarket offering paid breaks, worth an extra £1,385 per year for the average employee BETTER EVERY PAY Aldi set to be first UK supermarket to pay assistants at least £13 an hour Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALDI will be the first UK supermarket to pay assistants at least £13 an hour. That will be the chain's basic pay rate from September 1. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Aldi, which uses the slogan 'Better Everyday', last increased its minimum hourly pay to £12.75 nationally and £14.05 in London earlier this year Credit: Aldi And staff within the M25 will earn at least £14.33, far exceeding the Real Living Wage of £12.60 and National Living Wage of £12.21. Long-serving staff will see their pay rise to £13.93 nationally and £14.64 in London. Already the UK's highest-paying supermarket Aldi, which uses the slogan 'Better Everyday', last increased its minimum hourly pay to £12.75 nationally and £14.05 in London earlier this year. Aldi also remains the only supermarket offering paid breaks, worth an extra £1,385 per year for the average employee. Boss Giles Hurley said: 'Our people are the driving force behind our success. "This latest investment in pay is a reflection of their hard work and the incredible contribution they make. 'We're proud to remain the UK's highest-paying supermarket and will continue to support our colleagues.' The chain is investing £650million to expand from 1,050 to 1,500 stores nationwide. It is opening ten new outlets this summer including in Caterham, Sheffield, and Fulham Broadway, and employs 45,000 staff. Rival Lidl hiked hourly pay for 28,000 workers on April 1. All upcoming 'Aldi Finds' in the middle aisle next week – including portable chargers, power toothbrushes & dryer balls Entry level wages rose to £12.75 an hour nationally, with London rates increasing to £14 an hour, as part of a £15million investment into pay. 4 Aldi will be the first UK supermarket to pay assistants at least £13 an hour Credit: Getty HEINEKEN REFRESHES LESS 4 Heineken sales fell in Europe and the US as pricing rows and weak demand hit volumes — though UK sales edged up thanks to Cruzcampo and Murphy's Credit: Reuters HEINEKEN has faced a tough start to 2025, selling less beer amid fraught pricing talks with European retailers. Its beer volumes fell 1.2 per cent globally in the first half, with European sales dropping 4.7 per cent as retailers in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain pulled the brand over price hikes. US sales also slumped due to weak consumer sentiment, while proposed tariffs threaten profits. Despite this, the brewer saw modest UK growth boosted by its Cruzcampo lager and Murphy's stout. MOVIE MAGIC EVERYMAN CINEMAS saw a 21 per cent sales surge in the first half of the year. Admissions climbed by 15 per cent in that time, with blockbusters like Thunderbolts and the new Mission Impossible helping to attract 2.2million visitors. And average ticket prices rose by six per cent, up to £12.46. Everyman has 48 venues in the UK, and plans to open more soon. Its shares rose 6.6 per cent in early trading yesterday. RENT SQUEEZE 4 Rents hit record highs as tenants now pay £400 more a month than five years ago - with London averages soaring to £2,712 Credit: Getty THE rental market is at record highs, with tenants paying £400 more per month than they did five years ago, Rightmove says. Average asking rents outside London sit at £1,365 per month, while those in the capital have soared to £2,712. The news comes despite rent growth slowing, with demand down 10 per cent and supply up 15 per cent. But tenants still spend 37 per cent of their income on housing.
Business News Wales
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
New Guide Launched on How to Do Business with 'Ardal' Councils
A new guide designed to help suppliers and contractors understand how to do business with the Ardal Councils has been launched. This guide aims to help organisations understand how the Ardal Councils – Cardiff, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, and the Vale of Glamorgan – buy goods, services and works. It also sets out how potential suppliers can increase their chances of finding out about opportunities and bidding for work. Ardal is the new name for the procurement service run by Cardiff Council, which delivers the council's collaborative partnership with Monmouthshire, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan. The guide outlines the procurement processes, legal frameworks, and opportunities available to organisations looking to supply goods, services, or works to local authorities. It provides clear instructions on how to register for opportunities via platforms like Sell2Wales and Proactis and explains the four procurement routes adopted by all Ardal Councils. The guide also details the selection criteria, tendering procedures, the tendering Do's and Don'ts and evaluation methods used by Ardal Councils, ensuring transparency and fairness. The guide promotes socially responsible procurement, encouraging suppliers to align with Ardal's values around community wellbeing, carbon reduction, ethical employment, and commitment to paying the Real Living Wage. It supports SMEs, third-sector organisations, and consortia in accessing public contracts, and offers practical advice on submitting competitive bids. Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, Cllr Chris Weaver, said: 'This new guide has been developed to make our procurement processes more accessible, transparent, and inclusive. By clearly outlining how to do business with the Ardal Councils, we're opening the door to more local businesses, social enterprises, and SMEs—helping them compete fairly and contribute to our shared goals of community wellbeing, sustainability, and ethical employment. I encourage all potential suppliers to take advantage of this resource.' To read the new guide, visit the Insight and News section of the Ardal website.
Belfast Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Workers at Belfast leisure centres to begin industrial action next week following members' ballot
Industrial action in the form of work-to-rule will begin across the city's municipal leisure centres on Tuesday July 15 following the vote taken by members of Unite and NIPSA. It follows what the unions say is the refusal of the company contracted by Belfast City Council to run the centres to agree the workforce's pay claim. "The council's decision to outsource services to GLL has proven disastrous' – Sharon Graham (Unite) Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) is contracted by the Council to manage its outsourced leisure centres and gyms. Both unions have contacted GLL to clarify they stand ready to commence negotiations to resolve the issue. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'It is a disgrace that leisure workers at Belfast leisure centres are earning far less than workers doing the same job in neighbouring councils. 'The council's decision to outsource services to GLL has proven disastrous not just for workers who are underpaid and overstretched but for the public who have endured hikes on charges." The unions said the Council's outsourcing of services had left pay for workers at its leisure centres at a lower level than those in other councils. Workers are seeking an additional one pound an hour pay increase this year to reduce the pay differential with other workers. NIPSA spokesperson Janette Murdock said: 'Belfast City Council is the biggest council in Northern Ireland but its leisure workers have the worst pay in the region. "GLL's unreasonable refusal has led to this industrial dispute and potential for a sharp escalation over the summer. The unions jointly contacted GLL on Friday [4 July] to confirm our readiness to enter negotiations at any time. "That said, GLL should be under no illusions as to our members' collective determination to close the pay chasm that has opened since Belfast council outsourced leisure services.' "GLL manage and run leisure centres across the city on behalf of Council. GLL is a social enterprise that reinvests all profits back into the centres and all operational matters, including those relating to pay, are under its remit,' said a spokesperson. 'Council is committed to working with GLL and its employees on the continued provision of leisure services in the city.' "We remain committed to continuing this dialogue' – GLL spokesperson GLL said it was 'disappointed' with the approach taken by the unions. "GLL is disappointed that, despite extensive and constructive negotiations, the unions have rejected a fair and competitive pay offer of 3-5% which is in line with inflation,' said a spokesperson. "As an Accredited Living Wage Employer, our pay offer is underpinned by the Real Living Wage. The unions proposed a counteroffer of 10-13%, which we are unable to accept. "As well as extensive dialogue that has already taken place, the unions have chosen to make this announcement on industrial action before the negotiation process has concluded. "Despite this, we remain committed to continuing this dialogue and have a further meeting planned with the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) and the unions on 30 July as part of this process. "As a worker's co-operative, and a charitable and social enterprise, we are aware that our offer is welcomed and wanted by many of our staff, who recognise that it values their hard work and commitment, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our services.'
