Matt Hornblower, CEO
Supporting Partners in their wellbeing
The UK’s foremost specialist in retail displays and interior fit out, Nuttall, is now a Living Wage Employer – paying all its Partners (employees) at least the Real Living Wage.
Nuttall is a brand of The Alan Nuttall Partnership, an Employee Ownership Trust, which has joined 14,000 businesses in the UK that recognise and address the true cost of living.
Working with a broad range of retail customers and formats, from high streets and concessions to department stores and retail parks, Nuttall offers an all in-house ‘Design, Make and Fit’ proposition. This provides retail customers with innovative display and fit-out solutions and enables them to achieve a level of control that can’t be found anywhere else. This new accreditation ensures that Nuttall supports its team in the best way possible, too.
Matt Hornblower, CEO of Nuttall, said: “We are proud to lead our industry in a variety of ways, and it means a great deal to us to now be an accredited Living Wage Employer. It demonstrates our commitment to supporting each of our Partners in their wellbeing and helping them achieve their potential.”
Celebrating Living Wage Week
The announcement was made during UK Living Wage Week, 6th-12th November 2023, the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement and just two weeks after the announcement of the latest Living Wage rates. Announced on 24th October, the new 2023-24 Real Living Wage rates are £12 across the UK, £13.15 in London.
The Real Living Wage is the only UK wage rate based on the actual cost of living. Annual rates are calculated by the Resolution Foundation based on a basket of everyday goods and overseen by the Living Wage Commission. Accreditation is awarded by the Living Wage Foundation to employers who pay this as a minimum.
Matt continued: “The cost of living has increased significantly in recent years, even preceding the current cost of living crisis. This is one aspect of why we believe that paying the Real Living Wage is so important. The Partnership recognises these continually inflating expenses and the potential impact on a person’s financial stability and, consequently, their private and professional life.”
Embracing employee ownership
Recently, the Partnership has focused on developing the support it offers its team – truly embracing employee ownership. It has done this through designing industry-leading benefits for all employees and investing in dedicated Partner facilities.
Its ‘Achieving Balance’ initiative saw Nuttall introduce pioneering benefits and policies across the entire business – making it a leading employer in the industry. These improvements included standardised hours, breaks, remuneration and sick pay; an industry-leading pension; equal Partnership dividends for all; an enhanced maternity and paternity policy; and mental and occupational health support.
Progressing, together
Hayley Evans, the Partnership’s Head of People, said: “There are many ways in which a business can support its Partners, and we know the results speak for themselves. However, achieving this nationally recognised accreditation is a formal and fundamental step for us, and one we believe more businesses should adopt.
“With remuneration that reflects today’s living costs, we are helping to reduce a stress that most of us experience – directly improving wellbeing. This is just one of the ways we help our team. All Partners also have access to a confidential support service that provides advice on financial issues and a range of other personal matters.”
