WIREDGOV

Xanthella first in Oban to sign up.

A life sciences company has become the first in Oban to make the Scottish Business Pledge.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney visited Xanthella, an innovative algae research and development company, yesterday (August 24), to meet with staff as he congratulated the organisation on joining the initiative.

Launched in May, the Pledge is a partnership between Government and business which works to boost productivity, enshrine fairness and generate inclusive growth across the private sector and beyond.

Xanthella is the 90th company to make the Pledge – roughly one firm every day since launch – and is the first to sign up in the Oban area.

Pledge companies commit to paying their staff the Living Wage – the hourly rate of pay which is set independently by the Living Wage Foundation.

Independent research commissioned by KPMG – also a Pledge company – illustrates the business benefits that flow from paying the Living Wage, including improved productivity and recruitment and retention of staff.

Companies also demonstrate that they are already delivering on at least two of a further eight elements of the Pledge, ranging from prompt payment to senior management diversity.

Lastly, companies commit to working towards the rest of the pledge elements through time.

Mr Swinney said:

“I am pleased to congratulate Xanthella on its decision to make the Scottish Business Pledge, joining a growing movement of progressive businesses and organisations with shared values and goals.

“As a cutting edge life sciences firm, Xanthella demonstrates the kind of innovative, ambitious approach to business recognised by the Pledge – one that boosts productivity and creates inclusive growth.

“I am encouraged by the way Xanthella’s plans, as expressed in its Pledge, chime with the Scottish Government’s vision of an innovative, entrepreneurial Scotland, competing in global markets and growing in a fair and sustainable way.”

Dr Douglas McKenzie, Chief Executive of Xanthella said: “The Scottish Business Pledge was an easy commitment for us to sign up to. It is the minimum that we should be doing as a company if we want to compete internationally, attract the best talent and help build stronger communities. I’m genuinely surprised to find that we are the first company in the Oban area to have made the pledge and hope more local businesses will follow our lead.”

Notes To Editors

Scottish Business Pledge has nine components: paying the living wage; not using exploitative zero hours contracts; supporting progressive workforce engagement; investing in youth; making progress on diversity and gender balance; pursuing international business opportunities; playing an active role in the community; commitment to prompt payment; committing to an innovative programme.

More information about the Scottish Business Pledge is available here.