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Real Living Wage increases to £14.10
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 2027 were announced today (Wednesday, 15 October) and participating employers are asked to implement the new rates by May 2027.
The Council – which has paid the real Living Wage for the past 15 years - has made the decision to pay the increased rate from today, 15 October 2026.
Since 2011, the real Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to around 72,000 people in Scotland and put more than £680 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 4,000 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 2027, overseen by the Living Wage Commission, is £14.10 per hour – an increase of 65p per hour on the rate announced last October (£13.45).
Quote: We are delighted to confirm this well-deserved increase to the Real Living Wage for our dedicated employees. Our staff are the backbone of our communities, delivering essential services day in and day out, and it is only right that their hard work is met with fair and equitable financial recognition. In these challenging economic times, we believe it is our moral and social duty to ensure that no one working for this council struggles to make ends meet. The early introduction of the new rate reflects our unwavering commitment to championing fair pay and tackling in-work poverty across North Ayrshire. By setting a strong benchmark as a responsible employer, we hope to lead by example and encourage other local organisations to prioritise the wellbeing and financial security of their workforce.”
Quote from: Councillor Tony Gurney, North Ayrshire Council Leader
The announcement will have a positive impact on 822 Council employees working in predominantly frontline roles.
Living Wage Week runs from November 9 to 15 November, 2026. Find out more about the Living Wage online.
Published: 15 October 2026