NES awarded Living Wage accreditation
NES awarded Living Wage accreditation
NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is marking Living Wage Week by accepting official accreditation as a Living Wage employer.
This milestone recognises NES's commitment to promoting equality, tackling inequalities, and transforming workplaces and lives by paying all directly employed staff and contracted workers a wage that reflects the real cost of living.
Karen Reid, NES Chief Executive said:
"I am proud that NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has been accredited by Living Wage Scotland, demonstrating the commitment NES is making as an anchor institution. NES's national reach makes us a key part of the broader anchor movement within the Scottish health and social care sector. This accreditation recognises the positive difference NES makes to, and impact we have on, people’s lives, daily.
"Staff working in fair conditions, being paid a fair wage is central to our values and to the wellbeing of our workforce and those we contract work to. This accreditation underlines our commitment to building a supportive, inclusive workplace where people can thrive."
Sybil Canavan, NES Director of People and Culture added:
"Being paid a real Living Wage – with Living Hours and a Living Pension – makes a difference, transforming employment and lives. As an anchor institution, we will keep working with suppliers, partners, and colleagues to promote fair pay and to make a positive difference for our communities.
"NES fair work principles also underpin and support efforts across other areas, such as our existing Carer Positive Employer accreditation and our Equally Safe at Work programme, as we make strong progress toward accreditation."
Peter Kelly, Director of The Poverty Alliance said:
"We all need an income that is enough to cover our needs and protect us from poverty, and it's only right that employers pay a wage that reflects the cost of living. Too many workers in Scotland are paid less than the real Living Wage and, at a time of high prices, are struggling to stay afloat. The real Living Wage can offer protection from those steep costs."
"Congratulations to NHS Education for Scotland on their Living Wage commitment, and I hope more organisations follow their lead by becoming Living Wage accredited."
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager said:
"We’re delighted that NHS Education for Scotland has become an accredited Living Wage employer. They join a growing movement of over 3,900 employers in Scotland who together want to ensure workers have what they need to thrive.
"Our Living Wage employer network includes lots of smaller employers as well as larger and iconic brands like SSE, abrdn, Barrs, Mackie’s of Scotland, & D.C. Thomson. We hope to see many more employers following their example."
Living wage employer
Living Wage Week, taking place between 10 and 16 November 2025, is a time to celebrate the real Living Wage movement, with this year's theme being 'the difference it makes'.
As part of the commitment to being Living Wage Accredited, NES will continue to work with partners and suppliers to encourage Living Wage adoption more widely across supply chains and to monitor progress through workforce governance arrangements.
The real Living Wage has transformed employment and transformed lives for nearly half a million UK workers, and over 16,000 UK businesses. To receive Living Wage accreditation, organisations must pay the real Living Wage to all directly employed staff and have a plan in place to pay contractors a Living Wage.
NHS Scotland is a Living Wage employer. To become accredited, organisations must:
- Pay all directly employed staff aged 18 and over the real Living Wage (currently £13.45 per hour, as of November 2025)
- Pay or have a plan in place to pay contracted workers the real Living Wage
Find out more
Contact: nes.equalityteam@nhs.scot
November, 12 2025