NORWICH City has confirmed the Club will be introducing a commitment to pay a Living Wage to all of its permanent colleagues.
The Club is set to phase in the Living Wage during the 2015-16 season and is currently working towards accreditation from The Living Wage Foundation, with the aim of achieving full implementation across its business by the 2016-17 season.
The change will see all permanent colleagues paid, as a minimum, the Living Wage as set by The Living Wage Foundation annually. Norwich City will also start the process of reviewing those of external agencies and contractors who work at the Club to make sure they meet the necessary criteria to receive the Living Wage by 2016-17.
The move is part of the Club's commitment to continually improving the business by developing talented and motivated colleagues.
City Chief Executive David McNally said:
"Everyone at the Club is firmly behind the introduction of the Living Wage for permanent employees and we're delighted to be able to start rolling this out across the business over this coming season.
"Although it represents a significant additional annual investment by the Club, we firmly believe the business benefits substantially from having a motivated workforce whose salaries properly reflect the cost of living in the UK.
"It is our intention to begin implementing the Living Wage during the 2015-16 season and to have it fully in place by 2016-17."
Rhys Moore, director, Living Wage Foundation said:
"We are very pleased that Norwich City is taking a lead in the Premier League, and putting in place plans to become an accredited Living Wage employer.
"Being a Living Wage employer means that all staff, both directly employed and sub contracted workers like cleaning and catering staff, receive the Living Wage hourly rate of pay.
"When Norwich City complete their Living Wage accreditation they will join Premier League winners Chelsea FC at the top of the table for fair pay.
"We hope to see the other clubs follow the lead of these two teams and reward their staff with a fair day's pay for a hard day's work.
We believe work should be the surest way out of poverty."
Norwich has been taking a lead on the Living Wage thanks to a range of local employers who have all chosen voluntarily to pay it, these include Norwich City Football Club, Norwich City Council, Aviva, Future Projects Norwich, Rainbow Wholefoods and City College Norwich.
The campaign group Living Wage Norwich, chaired by Tony Gammage, and Norwich City Council will coordinate a range of events across the City this November to celebrate Living Wage Week.