PGL Beyond: Delivering the Living Wage in the hospitality sector

PGL Beyond, the UK’s biggest outdoor education provider, became the first employer within the outdoor education sector to be officially accredited with the Living Wage Foundation.

The accreditation means that the organisation, with over 2,000 team members across the UK, pledges to pay all team members a wage that meets the real cost of living. Every individual PGL Beyond colleague will earn at least the real Living Wage, based on what people need to live as opposed to the minimum amount of pay set by the government.

Historically, the hospitality sector is one of the largest employers in the UK, yet many working within it still face low wages and financial insecurity. In 2023-2024, our research found that hospitality remained the area with the highest proportion of low pay (53.6 percent). 

However, PGL Beyond is changing things. 

Anthony Jones, the CEO of PGL Beyond, says:

"We are committed to ensuring not only fair wages for our colleagues, but to provide them with a positive and supportive work environment, clear career pathways and opportunities to really build a future in the sector. By paying the real Living Wage, based on the true cost of living, we can provide that stability as well as setting a new standard for fair employment practices in our industry.

"The Living Wage is so important to me. It's part of this bigger putting our people first. If we look after our people, they'll look after our customers, and that will look after the business, and that will secure an extremely successful future for all."

Chief People Officer at PGL Beyond, Sharon Parkin, says:

"Within PGL Beyond, we always want to make sure that we are putting our people first. We decided  that paying Living Wage rates was something we wanted to aim for. 

"Across the company I really think it has created a huge sense of pride and motivation and engagement. It actually gives me quite a warm glow. I grew up in a minimum wage family and I understand the pressures that can create, and actually it really makes me feel good to be part of a company that's invested in our people this way."

Find out how you can become Living Wage accredited here.