Quality & Service, (Q&S) the independent commercial landscape company, has announced that it is now a formally Recognised Service Provider proudly working together with the Living Wage Foundation.

Q&S had implemented the UK and London Living Wage for employees working at its head office and a proportion of core employees working on Client Estates. However, this Recognition Award from the Living Wage Foundation demonstrates that Q&S are further committed, where permitted, to submitting the Living Wage alternative in all its Tenders and will promote the adoption of the Living Wage to its Clients.

The Recognition Award for Service Providers was created by the Living Wage Foundation in order to help service providers make a fair pay commitment. Given the nature of their business, it is not always possible for service providers to implement the Living Wage for all the contracts they deliver.

Living Wage Recognition helps service providers demonstrate a real commitment to the Living Wage, by paying (as minimum) this to its head office staff and core organisation employees, as well as working with client and customers to raise awareness.

Sue Payne, managing director of Q&S said: “We are proud and delighted to be recognised by the Living Wage Foundation and be part of a network of responsible employers in the UK. As a service company, we believe that we have an important role to play in promoting the Living Wage movement.”

Q&S’ Living Wage commitment sits within their Corporate Value; the aspiration to a culture of unconditional integrity; it is at the heart of how they operate, integrity in dealing with their clients, employees, other contractors and their client’s tenants and visitors; integrity in the service they provide and integrity in their behaviour.

Sue Payne concluded: “We are committed to working with our clients and with the wider industry to promote fair play and tackle in-work poverty. Q&S recognises that our people are at the heart of our business and the key to our success, enabling us to be the best at that we do and we are committed to sustainable employment. Supporting the Living Wage is the right thing to do; it improves our employees’ quality of life, but also benefits our business and wider society.”

The Living Wage is an hourly rate calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK, set independently and updated annually. The current UK Living Wage is £8.45 an hour, and the current London Living Wage is £9.75 an hour.