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Real Living Wage increases to £13.45
North Ayrshire Council has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting staff by paying the new real Living Wage rate a full six months early.
The Living Wage rates for 2026 were announced on Wednesday, 22 October, and participating employers are asked to implement the new rates by May 2026.
The Council – which has paid the real Living Wage for the past 14 years - has made the decision to pay the increased rate straight away.
Since 2011, the real Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to around 70,000 people in Scotland and put more than £600 million extra into the pockets of low paid Scottish workers.
Here in North Ayrshire, there are more than 50 Living Wage-accredited employers registered with Living Wage Scotland, and more than 3,900 across Scotland.
The hourly pay rate is independently calculated by the Resolution Foundation based on what people in the UK need to earn to afford a decent standard of living, and it is paid voluntarily by employers.
The price of childcare, transport, heating and housing are all taken into account when the rate is set.
The newly-announced rate for 2026, overseen by the Living Wage Commission, is £13.45 per hour – an increase of 85p per hour on the rate announced last October (£12.60).
North Ayrshire Council Leader Marie Burns said the Council continues to be a champion of ensuring people receive a fair day’s pay.
Quote: Unfortunately, the Cost-of-Living Crisis is still with us and every community across North Ayrshire continues to feel its effects. At North Ayrshire Council we need to lead by example. By committing to the real Living Wage – and paying the new rate immediately – we are showing staff how much we value them. It’s only right that we pay a wage that reflects the cost of living – it’s good for our workforce, it’s good for the Council and it’s good for North Ayrshire society as a whole.”
Quote from: Marie Burns, North Ayrshire Council Leader
The announcement will have a positive impact on 796 Council employees working in predominantly frontline roles.
Living Wage Week runs from November 10 to 16, and you can find out what is happening by using #LivingWageWeek on social media.
Find out more about the real Living Wage online.
Published: 23 October 2025