100 firms in West have signed up for good employment charter

More than 100 firms across the West of England region have signed up to a good employment charter.

The employers have backed West of England Mayor Dan Norris’s campaign against poverty pay in a bid to protect workers during the cost-of-living crisis.

The charter pledges, among other commitments, to pay staff a real living wage and to clamp down on the use of zero-hours contracts.

Firms to sign up include animation giants Aardman and open banking app Moneyhub. In total, the charter is now supporting over 7,000 West of England workers.

A further 200 companies are in talks to sign the charter.

Currently, more than 15 per cent  of the region’s workforce earn less than a Real Living Wage, which is £10.90 an hour outside of London, with an estimated 11,000 workers on zero-hours contracts.

Speaking ahead a visit to local retrofit specialists Hawkland one of the first businesses to sign up to the Charter, Mr Norris said: “This is a significant milestone.

“No matter what job you do, everyone deserves to be properly paid for the work you do in decent, safe conditions and with clear opportunities to progress and develop.

“ I want to praise the brilliant employers we have in the West – those like Hawkland, who are ensuring warmer homes across our great region.

“And where there are employers who want to do the right thing by their workers and join me in the battle against low pay and poor working conditions, I want to work with them to take them on a journey to doing better.

“As a Jobs First Mayor, I’m delighted to see so many employers starting that journey with my Combined Authority already and would encourage others from across the West to get involved and help make our region the best it can be.”

Hawkland directors Chris Hawker, David Copeland and Ben Nother explained to Mayor Norris how their company is investing in their number one asset – their workforce – through enrolling their workers on a mental health and wellbeing course and measures to ensure they have a good work/life balance.

David Copeland added: “As a social enterprise, we have focused on developing a positive and inclusive culture right from the start. Now that we are expanding, it is becoming even more important that we are setting in place the right principles and strategy that will provide the foundations for this next phase of growth.”

The 100-plus Charter backers will now be supported to raise standards across a number of areas, including with flexibility at work and recruitment and progression, with a tiered approach to help them progress.

Firms receiving funding through the West of England Combined Authority’s investment funds will be required to become Charter supporters.