The CEO of Brighton i360, Eleanor Harris, tells us why they signed up to the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign.
Brighton i360 signed up to the Living Wage Campaign in Brighton & Hove this week, making us one of the first major tourism attractions in the city to commit to paying our staff well over the minimum wage.
We’re doing this because to us it makes perfect sense. If we pay more to our staff, we will be able to attract the very best, against a lot of competition in a city where tourism-related employment accounts for 14% the workforce,
Our team is growing fast already and when we launch the i360 in 2016, we will be running one of the top attractions in the UK. We want to attract and retain great people who are able to deliver outstanding customer service.
If visitors have a fantastic experience when they visit us, they are more likely to recommend our attractions to friends and family and to share their positive experience on social media. We believe that paying decent wages will have a direct and positive impact on our bottom line.
I have huge experience of working with and managing staff at top UK destination businesses, including the London Eye, View from the Shard, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Turner Contemporary, Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museums and many more. I’m really looking forward to opening our 162m high attraction and venue on Brighton Beach in 2016.
We will be investing in our staff training. For example, our pod host will be trained to deliver a professional tour commentary, to operate the pod and in first aid. Our team of engineers will be trained in the maintenance and safety checks for the tower and vertical cable car machinery. These are highly skilled jobs and we will want to retain our teams.
Over 160 businesses, charities, social enterprises and public sector organisations have now signed up to the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign, which is led and managed by Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce and funded by Brighton & Hove City Council and Public Service Board.
This week, from 2nd – 8th November, is Living Wage Week 2014 in the UK and businesses are being encouraged to sign up to the campaign at http://livingwagebrighton.co.uk/sign-up.
About Brighton i360
At 162 metres high, and with an observation pod rising to 138 metres, the i360 will be the tallest observation tower outside London, offering a new perspective on the fun loving seaside city of Brighton. Sited at the root end of the historic West Pier on Brighton’s seafront, the i360 has a slender, elegant design, with a futuristic pod allowing 200 visitors at a time to enjoy the surrounding view as it slowly unfolds. The visitor centre incorporates a 400 seat restaurant; a shop; exhibition space; and conference and event facilities.
Twitter: @TheBrightoni360
Facebook: Brighton-i360
Pinterest: Brightoni360
Blog: Brightoni360.wordpress.com
Website: www.brightoni360.co.uk
At Ellie Ellie, we believe in bringing people together through all life's moments and we, therefore, believe these values should be lived. Committing the real living wage is part of our values in order to make sure everyone has the opportunity to celebrate all life's moments no matter their role within the business and this…
Paying the Living Wage is a tangible way to let our employees know how much we value them and the work they do. If everyone in the City of Brighton & Hove was paid the Living Wage, we would see a stronger and fairer city, hence we support the campaign.
"As a company we even pay trainee staff more than a basic wage so we’ve signed up to the Living Wage Campaign as this only seems fair."
"As a key employer in Sussex, the Chief Constable and I, on behalf of Sussex Police, are pleased to support the Living Wage Campaign in Brighton & Hove." Katy Bourne
We have scrapped the normal low pay plus commission model that traditional lettings agency use and have decided instead to promote fair pay and rewards for all staff members. We find this helps with everyone working together as a team and also making all members of staff feeling valued and supported.
