Construction and Engineering company Laing O'Rourke has received official accreditation for paying its employees the real living wage.

The real living wage is paid by over 12,00 UK businesses that consistently pay their employees above the national minimum wage. To achieve the award Laing O’Rourke needed to show that it and all its supply chain were meeting the real living wage.

The UK based company claimed it had more than 13,000 employees internationally in 2022. It has completed significant projects both within the UK and abroad. Major UK projects include, Ascot Racecourse, Heathrow Terminal 5 and the upcoming Bramley-Moore Dock stadium for Everton Football Club.

Commenting on the award, Laing O’Rourke's Business Unit Leader, Tom Higgins, said: "While we've been paying the real living wage for some time, it was important that we secured accreditation.

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"It gives our clients assurance the work they're awarding is going to a contractor which pays fairly, while also giving us the opportunity to attract more talent into the business.

"It is proof that we are living up to our values of integrity and care, and I'm incredibly proud we have been awarded the accreditation."

The accreditation was welcomed by Manchester City Council, a repeat client of Laing O'Rourke’s and which has recently been accredited as a real living wage city.

Reflecting on their past partnerships, Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council, Cllr Joanna Midgley, said: "We are very pleased that Laing O'Rourke is formally accredited as a Real Living Wage employer.

"We have worked with LOR for many years, most recently on the iconic Factory Project where Laing O'Rourke provided a wide range of education, apprenticeship and employment opportunities for Manchester residents. We are committed to more of our residents earning the Living Wage or above as part of our approach to tackling poverty.

"Laing O'Rourke has supported Manchester to become an accredited Living Wage City and we would encourage more of our employers to join LOR and 200+ other employers in the city on that journey and thank them for their commitment."