Aquaterra is proud to announce that casual staff in Islington including Islington lifeguards, instructors, receptionists and membership advisors received an upgrade to the £8.55 per hour London Living Wage payment this July, positively impacting on up to 200 Aquaterra staff.

Aquaterra – one of only 3% of companies in the UK to hold the prestigious Investors in People Gold standard award – is the first leisure trust in London to become an accredited London Living Wage employer and manages the leisure centres in Islington in strategic partnership with Islington Council.

Aquaterra had committed to pay the London Living Wage to all staff, the final phase of which was achieved in the recent 2013/14 pay settlement.

Aquaterra is also delighted to state that it has gone above and beyond the requirements of the London Living Wage and has included employees under 18 years of age.

Antony Kildare, Chief Executive, said: "The London Living Wage is all about fairness and we are delighted that we have been able to bring the earnings of our casual and youngest workers into line with our permanent employees. As a registered charity and a progressive organisation, we believe it is essential to invest in our hard working staff, in our local communities and to provide genuine motivation and decent living standards for our workforce.

"We are very pleased to have been fully supported by our partner and accredited London Living Wage employer Islington Council in achieving this goal."

Cllr Catherine West, Leader of Islington Council, said: 

"We want Islington to be a fairer place, and a fair day's pay for a fair day's work is a big part of that. I'm very pleased Aquaterra's staff are all receiving a Living Wage, and I hope other Islington employers will follow their good example. Being paid a Living Wage makes a huge difference to the lives of our residents, workers and their families."

Georgia Stores, Receptionist at Sobell Leisure Centre, said: "Being paid the London Living Wage means I am better off financially and I also get some time now to focus on my studies. We're being paid a fair and ethical wage and it makes you feel really supported and valued."