SMS

In 2020, SMS plc became an Accredited ‘Living Wage’ employer. In addition, we launched a new pay and reward framework ‘One – SMS’ in 2021 to ensure pay equity, and then became an Accredited ‘Living Hours’ employer in June 2022, to support the development of our people, future business growth, and enabling a particular focus on those employees who joined the business on an entry level salary.

Whilst all employees within SMS plc received a cost of living award in 2022, it was decided that further rewarding employees in lower paid roles demonstrates the Company’s commitment to supporting those employees where the substantial cost of living will be felt more acutely. Therefore the focus in April 2022 was to increase employees’ salaries which are classed as entry level roles within our ‘One – SMS’ pay and reward framework. 23% of our employees receive a ‘Living Wage’ salary for these roles which are generally harder to recruit and retain and are critical to business success.

The UK ‘Living Wage’ for 2021/2 (excluding London) increased from £9.50ph to £9.90ph. As an Accredited ‘Living Wage’ employer, we had an obligation to meet this increase for our employees, however, our moral focus and business strategy enabled us to increase our entry level hourly rate further, to £10.51ph for 2022, which is £0.61p higher than the ‘Living Wage’. Employees who were in receipt of the new Living Wage of £9.90ph, received a 10.6% increase to £10.51ph. Employees who were slightly above the Living Wage and increased to £10.51ph, received an increase of between 6-9%. Living Hours 2022 In addition to being an Accredited ‘Living Wage’ employer, SMS plc became an Accredited ‘Living Hours’ employer in June 2022. This means that we must provide all direct employees and third-party contracted staff within scope with; (i) At least 4 weeks’ notice period for shifts; (ii) A contract that reflects the hours they regularly work; and (iii) A guaranteed minimum of 16 hours per week (unless employee requests fewer).

Continued Commitment We are proud of our commitment of being an Accredited Living Wage and Living Hours employer, and the approach we have been able to take in 2022 to further reward our ‘Living Wage’ employees. This will be a continued focus for SMS into 2023, as we always aim to ensure any decisions made are in the best interests of our people. This demonstrates our commitment to not only our employees, but to the economy as well.

SMS Plc Employee Case Studies ‘When I received the increase in salary this had a huge and extremely positive impact on me as it has now allowed me to save faster for my first home and mortgage. This increase has had a great impact as well with my mental health as I am now reducing my medication as I don’t have as many worries especially with the rise in cost of gas and electric. It has given me the freedom to save and look forward for what I can do in my future with the extra money. This is just a few examples on the positive impact this increase has had on me’ Abigail Burns, Task Force Advisor

‘I was thrilled with my pay increase last month; it was very unexpected to receive such a high percentage amount. I was hoping for 3% but when it came in at 6.45% it was amazing. I currently live on my own so pay everything myself. With my Rent, Council Tax, Water and Gas and Electric all going up this extremely worried me as to where the extra money would come from. I don’t have to worry now as the pay increase has covered everything and leaves me a little extra for a takeaway as a treat each month’. Karen Robins, Metering Coordinator

‘The recent wage increase to £10.51 was a welcome surprise given the current increases in cost of living. I run a pretty strict budget to ensure I’m not worrying too much about finances however recently this has been strained. I did expect some form of increase around 1 – 2 % and started to budget around that figure but an increase of more than double those figures has really helped. The biggest impact for myself is on fuel costs, the extra on my wage has allowed me to worry less about using my car as I depend on my car to travel to the office, it also helps towards the increase in weekly food shopping for myself as this was also an expense which was starting to tighten my budget’. Craig Murphy, Customer Service Adviser

We always aim to ensure any decisions made are in the best interests of our people. This demonstrates our commitment to not only our employees, but to the economy as well.