Lifestyle: Ilkley Brewery, Leeds Fashion Initiative, Masons Yorkshire Gin
ILKLEY BREWERY has become a Living Wage Employer, increasing pay across the board just months after announcing an investment in the company by the Half Full Beer Company.
The commitment will see Ilkley Brewery staff, from permanent employees to third party contractors, get a minimum hourly wage of £7.85, above the national minimum wage of £6.50.
The commitment will continue into 2016 with a rise to £8.25.
Luke Raven, co-director at Ilkley Brewery said: “We are proud to be raising our voice amongst a growing number of businesses across the UK who support their staff by paying the Living Wage.
“Our beer is made by people, by hand, and we rely on their passion and commitment. By recognising their hard work in this way, we hope to be able to foster a greater sense of shared ownership in the long term project here at Ilkley Brewery.
“We have already invested over £140,000 in the infrastructure at Ilkley Brewery since August this year, including taking on an additional storage facility, and with additional expansion in the pipeline. I think this emphasises our commitment to grow Ilkley Brewery into one of the top independent breweries in the UK.”
Living Wage Foundation director, Rhys Moore said: “We are delighted to welcome Ilkley Brewery to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer.
“The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay.
Ilkley Brewery has also committed to a programme of job creation, with a 60% increase in headcount by the end of 2015.
THE Leeds Fashion Initiative is attempting to return the region’s fashion and textile manufacturing industries to their former glory.
It is a collaboration between Lambert’s Yard, the Lower Briggate collective of retailers, and Leeds City Council, and the brainchild of arts charity Regeneration through the Arts.
The initiative plans to re-establish Leeds as a “major international centre for fashion design, technology and textiles.”
The Centre for Fashion Enterprise, part of London College of Fashion, who are developing a three-year plan and applying for European funding for the project.
Burberry and Aquascutum are two of the UK designers supporting the Leeds Fashion Initiative, and will provide outfits for the launch runway show, taking place on Wednesday 25 November at Leeds City Museum.
Both either manufacture or source textiles from the region, from companies such as Hainsworth.
Adam Jagger, retail director for Lambert’s Yard and project manager for the LFI project said:”The support the LFI project is receiving from some of the country’s leading designers is fantastic.
“Obviously, Burberry lending us key looks for the fashion show is even more pertinent following the announcement of their new factory being built in Leeds.”
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LEEDS Principles Agency has helped rebrand Masons Yorkshire Gin, an artisan gin distilled in Yorkshire with Harrogate Spring Water.
Principles Agency has also created branding for Masons’ three new limited gin editions that encompass Yorkshire Tea Gin, Lavender Gin and a Vodka.
Masons Yorkshire Gin is the brainchild of a husband and wife team from Bedale and is stocked at major retailers including Harvey Nichols, independent wine merchants and chains, high-end cocktail bars, restaurants and hotels.
Mike Hackett, Principles Agency’s director said: “It’s a really exciting time for the agency’s development.
“This latest business win reflects a period of growth as we continue to work collaboratively with reputable high street brands and take new brands, like Masons Yorkshire Gin, to market.”
