BITC and Scottish Government’s shared statement on in-work and child poverty

1. Vision for Scotland

Our vision for Scotland is that no child grows up in poverty.

Every person should be able to enter and remain in sustainable Fair Work jobs that pay a living wage, provide security and offer accessible opportunities to progress. Fair Work is good for people, good for business, and good for Scotland’s economy.

Following a roundtable discussion with employers co-chaired by the Deputy First Minister and BITC Scotland Chair, Caroline Colliston, the Scottish Government is reasserting its commitment to working in partnership with responsible businesses to achieve our ambition for a Scotland free from poverty, where everyone can look forward to a future of opportunity.

The Scottish Government is working with Business in the Community to:

2. Background and Evidence

Eradicating child poverty in Scotland is a national mission and a top priority for the Scottish Government. We are absolutely committed to meeting the 2030 child poverty targets and will do everything in our power to deliver the change needed in the face of challenging economic conditions.

The Scottish Government cannot do this alone. It will take all partners working together to deliver our vision of a Scotland where no child grows up in poverty.

As well as a moral imperative, there is an economic justification for addressing in-work poverty. People are at the heart of successful business and creating diverse workplaces with thriving workers can lead to increases in productivity, profitability, innovation and engagement.

Business in the Community’s In Work Poverty in Scotland: What employers need to know report shows that 14% of working households in Scotland – around 410,000 people – are living in poverty. Scottish Government statistics also show 75% of children in poverty in Scotland live in households where at least one person works. However, only three in 10 senior leaders identify in-work poverty as a business issue, and only a quarter of businesses are taking steps to address it.

Actions employers can take include:

• Adopting the Real Living Wage.
• Enhancing parental pay.
• Increasing job security.
• Giving considerable notice for shifts.
• Ensuring equitable access to training and career progression opportunities.
• Offering flexible working arrangements.
• Training line managers to identify and respond to financial or emotional stress.
• Supporting groups such as parents and carers, employees with disabilities, and Black, Asian, Mixed Race, and other ethnically diverse colleagues.

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, said:

The Scottish Government’s ambition is for a Scotland free from poverty, where every person can look ahead to a future filled with opportunity. Open and honest conversations with Business in the Community and employers who share this vision lets us hear first-hand how responsible businesses support their workforce and their ideas for improvement. Strengthened partnership towards a shared vision means we can work together to agree how we can all contribute to eradicating child poverty.

Louisa Macdonell, Scotland Director at Business in the Community, said:

No child should grow up in poverty, and that’s why businesses and government need to work together to end it. Businesses are a vital part of the ecosystem to address disparities, improve social mobility, deliver social and economic benefits for people across Scotland, and be a leader for this change. This will benefit the economy and help reduce absenteeism and staff turnover. We are delighted to be working with responsible businesses in Scotland alongside the Deputy First Minister and the Scottish Government to ensure that child poverty is eradicated.

ENDS

Notes to editor

For further information, please contact Polly Dacam, Senior Public Affairs and Media Officer, on 020 7566 6638.

About Business in the Community

Business in the Community (BITC) champions responsible business as essential for long term economic growth and resilience.   
 
It is the UK’s leading responsible business network, working with companies of all sizes to tackle society’s most pressing challenges from climate change and place-based community regeneration to inequality, workplace wellbeing, and inclusive growth.  
  
Founded by His Majesty King Charles III in 1982, BITC has over four decades of experience in engaging business and delivering measurable impact in both business and in communities through evidence-based interventions.

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