Lightsource Renewable Energy Holdings (“Lightsource”), Europe’s leading solar energy company, is pleased to announce that it has received an accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation for its Employee Living Wage commitment.
The commitment will apply to all Lightsource employees, including permanent workforce or third-party contractors, who will receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.40 – significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.70 per hour and the new minimum wage premium for over 25s of £7.20 per hour introduced in April 2016.
The accreditation further reinforces Lightsource’s commitment to its employees and its reputation as a conscientious corporate entity.
Nick Boyle, CEO of Lightsource said: “We’re proud to be part of a growing network of responsible employers. Joining the Living Wage Foundation is another example of Lightsource taking social responsibility seriously, as part of our ongoing attempts to be the best employer we can be. We want our staff to know we are dedicated to securing their future, year in, year out.”
The Living Wage is recalculated every year, and businesses and organisations must adjust the wages they pay their staff accordingly, to retain the Living Wage accreditation.
Katherine Chapman, director, Living Wage Foundation, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lightsource Renewable Energy Holdings 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.”
About Lightsource
Lightsource Renewable Energy Holdings was founded in 2010 and has achieved an unrivalled track record in the installation of both ground mount and rooftop solar projects.
Currently the leading solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generator in the UK and Europe, and one of the top ten largest solar PV energy generators globally, Lightsource has deployed more than £2.2 billion of solar assets and manages an operational portfolio of more than 1.3 Gigawatts (GW) – enough to power more than 350,000 households each year. Its in-house team of experts create bespoke photovoltaic (PV) solutions for business and domestic use, offering full service capability from initial design and planning through to ongoing operations and maintenance.
A British domiciled company, it has more than 320 staff based at offices in London, Bath, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin. To find out more, visit www.lightsource-re.co.uk.
About the Living Wage Foundation
The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK. Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
The London Living Wage is currently £9.40 per hour. This figure is set annually by the Greater London Authority and covers all boroughs in Greater London. The UK Living Wage for outside of London is currently £8.25 per hour. This figure is set annually by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University.
The Living Wage Foundation recognises and celebrates the leadership shown by Living Wage employers across the UK. There are currently over 2,600 accredited employers. We are an initiative of Citizens UK. We believe that work should be the surest way out of poverty.
We receive guidance and advice from the Living Wage Advisory Council. The Foundation is supported by ten principal partners: Aviva; Joseph Rowntree Foundation; KPMG; Linklaters; Nationwide; Nestle; Resolution Foundation; Save the Children; Trust for London; and Queen Mary University of London.
