Coffee Shop

30 Oct 2024,  Neil

Minimum wage

Increase in minimum wage making small horticultural businesses less viable. We are finding that the progression of staff through a small garden centre is non existent, with generally all staff, except senior supervisors earning the minimum wage. With the minimum wage going up so much in April this will only exasperate the situation. Where we used to have a new employee on the minimum wage, and could incentivize with a wage increase and a title, there is now no scope for this. The other problem is senior staff see new staff earning a similar wage, they become disillusioned. This government are using the minimum wage to keep the general public happier, while not having to actually spend money themselves. Especially with the increase in national insurance small businesses in all sectors are going to find making profits even more difficult in what is already a difficult trading period. To be honest all small businesses need to get together and action is needed, as the Government just does not seem interested in other views

2 Nov 2024,  Pete
The minimum wage is not a 'liveable' wage at just £22K a year. The government seems to have removed references to the living wage, which needs to be closer to the £15 an hour mark to attract the best talent to the garden centre industry. I am sure many in this sector already pay above the minimum wage, especially in Greater London area, but £11.44 an hour is by no means generous and this industry needs to adjust accordingly.
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