OREANDA-NEWS. August 30, 2016. At the heart of Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission’s (SHE Transmission’s) ?1.1billion Caithness-Moray project is the largest Living Wage contract in the UK to date with ABB Limited, worth ?460million, for the manufacture and installation of the 100 mile subsea cable beneath the Moray Firth.

As part of the SSE Group, SHE Transmission is committed both to paying the Living Wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, and to ensuring over time all contractors and subcontractors who work regularly on its sites receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

The newly published study of the social and economic contribution of the Caithness-Moray project highlights the difference that has been made to businesses and individuals providing services to ABB sites in Caithness and Moray.

SHE Transmission’s Project Director Graeme Barclay said: “The report reflects that paying the Living Wage to all employees on site has not only been the right thing to do in principle, but has also brought real benefits to the project. Our major contractors and their subcontractors report that it has helped them to recruit and retain a committed workforce from the local area, particularly in some of the essential facilities management roles on site. This has both supported the growth of local businesses to meet the demand; and local recruitment by businesses based outside the local area.”

The report highlights Thurso-based cleaning business Clean Crazy Ltd, which was founded in 2012 by Company Director Leanne McClure, initially as sole trader. By 2015 the business had grown to have an annual turnover of around ?120,000, of which around ?100,000 is Caithness-Moray related work, and now employs eight people across the project sites in the area.

Leanne said: “The key barrier to paying the Living Wage is finding clients who buy in to the concept. If the clients don’t buy in, the margins are very tight.

“That’s why it’s been so great working on the Caithness-Moray project - whether it’s SHE Transmission, Balfour Beatty or ABB, all working on the project have a mutual respect for each other which makes for a pleasant workplace and productive workforce. This, coupled with the benefits to the employees from the Living Wage, makes my job as a boss far easier.”

A different example is north of Scotland security business, Securitay, who have offices in Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. Their contract with ABB covering its Caithness-Moray sites is worth approximately ?1.2million over 3 years and has resulted in the recruitment of 18 new full-time members of staff.

Securitay Deputy Managing Director Richard Jennings said: “The Living Wage has improved our recruitment process at Securitay and we’ve definitely seen a better quality of applicants and retention of staff.”

Reflecting particularly on the strong relationship developed with the job centre in Wick, Richard added: “The job centre has been great in facilitating us in the selection and training of some locals who were claiming benefits and unable to find suitable employment. These claimants now have Security Industry Authority licences and are in full-time employment with us. Seeing these individuals develop their skill sets with Securitay has been a hugely rewarding experience.”

Summing up the difference the Living Wage makes to individuals, one Securitay employee who works at ABB’s Buckie site said: “The Living Wage has been great for me personally, making things a bit easier every month and just giving me more flexibility in terms of what I do with my money. You can definitely see the benefits for the company too, with more employment generally but also employees that really value their job and want to work hard.”