THE Cornish-based UK’s first Living Wage holiday park owner, Patrick Langmaid from Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, today addressed delegates at the fifth West Country Conference on the business and people benefits of being an accredited voluntary Living Wage Employer, as part of a discussion around the implementation of the new higher minimum wage for over 25s also called the ‘National Living Wage’.
Patrick said: ’West Country tourism businesses, despite all the challenges, are leading the way in the tourism sector with both the first Living Wage accredited Holiday Park and the first Hotel in the UK.
’There has been much hand wringing and concern about the new minimum wage rate, it’s a step in the right direction and to be welcomed, but there’s still opportunity for businesses to go further and pay the voluntary Living Wage.
’Mother Ivey’s shows it is possible to pay the voluntary Living Wage and I’m here today to explain to other business leaders the benefits to businesses of accrediting with the Living Wage Foundation. ’I’m proud to be a Living Wage employer and I hope West Country businesses will lead the way and demonstrate that tourism need not be a low pay industry.’
The voluntary living hourly wage of £8.25 is significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.70.
The conference is taking place in Exeter.