Published
Sep 2, 2015
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Oliver Bonas is UK’s first high-street retailer to pay living wage

Published
Sep 2, 2015

“Every single member of our team matters to us here at [Oliver Bonas] and every one plays a key role in making us the great store we are today. We work hard – and we support and value each other,” said the British high-street retailer as it announced this Monday its commitment to pay the living wage to all its directly employed staff and third party contractors.


The British brand becomes the first UK retailer to adopt the living wage - Oliver Bonas


The move makes the fashion label become the UK’s first high-street retailer to adopt the living wage, which is calculated on the cost of living in the United Kingdom. The current UK living wage is £7.85 per hour and the living wage in London is at £9.15 per hour.

The fashion, jewellery, homeware and gifts company received an accreditation as a living wage employer by the Living Wage Foundation.

Rhys Moore, director, Living Wage Foundation said to be delighted by the news, stating that “major players in the retail sector have for a long time claimed that the Living Wage is too expensive to implement on the high street. This move by Oliver Bonas demonstrates that whilst it’s not always an easy choice for business to make, it is the right choice, and we hope that both staff and customers will support the leadership they are showing in their commitment to help end the low wage culture of the British high street.”

“It is exciting to be the first retailer on the High Street to make this commitment, “said in a press release Oliver Tress, Managing Director and Founder of Oliver Bonas. “This is a direct result of the hard work of our team, helping us to grow the business at a good, steady pace over the last twenty or so years.”  

More than 500 people work at Oliver Bonas, which has 43 stores across London and the UK, and a head office and warehouse distribution centre in Chessington, Surrey. The label founded in 1993 has also two upcoming store openings in York and Birmingham. 

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