Abellio ScotRail has invested £375million in living wage suppliers since taking over the franchise to run Scotland’s railway, it was announced today.

To mark Living Wage Week, which saw the announcement of the a new level of £8.75 per hour, Abellio ScotRail released the figures to highlight its strong commitment to the living wage and to supporting businesses that pay a fair wage.

Abellio ScotRail became one of the largest living wage accredited employers in March 2016, and has fitted out every train with a living wage logo.

Abellio took over the ScotRail franchise in April 2015.

James Ledgerwood, head of economic and community development at the ScotRail Alliance, said:

“We are building the best railway Scotland has ever had – and a key part of that is investing in our own people and helping other businesses to thrive.

“The £375million we have invested in living wage suppliers since April 2015 has made an important contribution to our economy. We have a long-term commitment to supporting businesses that pay a fair wage.

“We are very proud to be an accredited living wage employer. It’s an important recognition of the valuable work our people do every single day to deliver for our customers.”

Humza Yousaf, Minister for Transport and the Islands said:
“The Scottish Government has long championed the Living Wage, recognising the real difference it can make to the lives of workers. Businesses can benefit too through better staff morale and increased productivity, that is why the ScotRail franchise includes a commitment to paying the Living Wage.
“Scotland has well over a quarter of the UK total of Living Wage accredited employers, putting us way ahead of other UK nations. We welcome Abellio ScotRail’s efforts to spread the benefits of the Living Wage even further by investing in living wage suppliers. They are setting a great example that encouraging the Living Wage is not just the right thing to do it makes good business sense.”