Employers have a deadline of May 2026 to implement the higher Real Living Wage – but Eland Cables has introduced the uplift immediately, months ahead of schedule
One employer has decided to introduce a pay boost for its staff months early – with staff saying the extra cash will help in the run-up to Christmas.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary pay for workers over the age of 18, whose employer is signed up to the Living Wage Foundation.
The idea is that the Real Living Wage is based on how much is costs to afford essentials such as food, clothing and your household bills.
The hourly rate will rise by 85p to £13.45 an hour, an increase of 6.7%, and by 95p to £14.80 an hour in London, up by 6.9%. This is higher than the statutory minimum wage.
The Real Living Wage applies to all workers over the age of 18 working for a Real Living Wage employer, of which there are now more than 16,000.
Employers have a deadline of May 2026 to implement the higher rates – but Eland Cables, a company supplying electrical cables to major infrastructure projects, has introduced the uplift immediately, months ahead of schedule.
Ben, 34, a father-of-two from Doncaster, has worked for Eland Cables for several years and is one of hundreds of staff benefiting from the early wage increase.
Ben said: “I think it’s brilliant. Everyone deserves fair pay, so I really welcome the move to reward us much earlier than next year’s deadline. I know the people I work with will feel the difference.
“The extra cash will help with general living expenses, and personally, with two young kids as we approach Christmas, it’s all welcome.
“Everything I do is for my kids’ future, but I’ve also been fundraising for a local hospice in Rotherham, you’ve got to remember there’s always someone worse off than you.”
Eland Cables’ executive director, JS Pelland, says the decision to implement the new Real Living Wage early is about fairness, loyalty, and long-term success.
He said: “We’ve always believed in a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. Our people drive quality and compliance. They’re fundamental to the promises we make to customers.
“Paying the Real Living Wage is central to our ESG and wellbeing strategy. Doing it early is simply the right thing to do.”
He adds: “When you treat people well, they stay. They’re more engaged, they take pride in what they do, and that means better results for everyone.”
Half of Eland Cables’ workforce are operatives performing essential roles such as cable cutting, picking and packaging, driving forklifts, and providing site maintenance and security, with many living locally in Doncaster.
Mr Pelland said: “When we became a Living Wage signatory in 2021, we made a management decision to bring all roles in-house.
“Everyone is on the same package of benefits, everyone is paid the Living Wage Plus. We don’t have contractors anymore, they’re all part of the team.”
He claims staff retention now stands at 88% year on year, sickness absence has dropped, and productivity has climbed. Since 2020, turnover has increased from £107million to over £300million in 2025.
Eland Cables also champions internal promotion and career development, with one of its site cleaners having slowly worked their way up the ladder to become shift manager.
Mr Pelland added: “People are more committed. They see the bigger picture and feel part of something. That builds consistency, quality, and trust, all essential in our line of work.”
