Press releases

Over half of Britain’s retailers have rewarded employees with increased salaries in the past 12 months

Research released today by Barclaycard Business has revealed that more than half (58 per cent) of retailers have increased employee pay in the last year. Furthermore, 42 percent of employee salaries have increased by more than 5 per cent, suggesting that retailers are rewarding their staff above the rate of inflation.

The research comes from the first Barclaycard Business Retail in Detail Survey; an annual survey of more than 1000 retailers across the country which aims to build a comprehensive picture of the nation’s high street and to gauge the views of retail owners in the UK today.

The findings reveal that Scottish retailers are the most generous when it comes to pay reviews and benefit provision. 75 per cent of Scottish retail businesses had offered their employees a pay rise in the last year with 38 per cent receiving a five per cent raise or more. This compares with only 57 per cent in England offering a rise and 60 per cent in Wales.

Bill Thomson, Commercial Director, Acquiring from Barclaycard Business, said:

“It is really positive to see such high levels of employee remuneration, suggesting that the market remains buoyant. Scotland has evidently been a key area of growth in employee salaries over the past twelve months and it will be interesting to see if its regional peers begin to challenge this in 2007.”

Further differences appear in the number of benefits provided to employees. 57 per cent of Scottish employers offer employees additional benefits compared to England (47 per cent) and Wales (53 per cent).

The survey also revealed the most commonly offered benefits, with employee discounts topping the list (56 per cent).

Benefits provided by retailers:

Employee discounts on products 56%

Bonuses 46%

Flexible working opportunities 41%