Nicola Ryan is concerned about rising inflation. Not just the impact of price increases on her personally, or on her employer One and All, a school uniform maker based in Stockport, north-west England. She’s worried about the impact on all her co-workers who are trying to manage their household budgets. “We’re in a real crisis,” says Nicola, who is director of colleague support. “We know [staff are] really worried.” The summer months will be relatively easy compared with October, when the “pinch-point will be rising [energy] bills”.
One and All has increased wages by 4.5 per cent for everyone except directors — an increase that would look generous in normal times, but now falls short of UK inflation, which hit 9 per cent last month and is expected to reach double digits in the autumn. But the company is doing its best to target help towards those in lower-paid roles, including manufacturing and warehouse work.
It has increased the profit share for all staff, which it expects to be worth more than £2,000 per person this year, and set up an emergency fund to help those who are struggling. “We were really honest and said this was due to the cost of living crisis,” says Ryan. “We are preparing for October.” This is on top of existing interest-free crisis loans for unexpected bills such as a boiler breakdown and free financial management advice. One and All is accredited by the charity Living Wage Foundation (which sets its “real” living wage at £9.90 an hour in the UK and £11.05 in London) and is also committed to “real living hours”, guaranteeing predictable shifts of at least 16 hours a week.