British manufacturer What More UK has given employees an immediate pay rise - ahead of the introduction of a compulsory National Living Wage in April 2016.
The East Lancashire supplier of plastic storageware, housewares and garden products already pays most of its 220 staff more than the current Living Wage, which is £7.85 an hour outside London. But now the company has upped the pay of everyone else in a commitment to the Living Wage as its minimum level of reward.

The National Minimum Wage is £6.50 per hour, but Chancellor George Osborne announced in his budget last month that it would be replaced by a compulsory Living Wage. Applying to workers over 25, it will come in at £7.20 an hour next April and rise to £9 by 2020.

What More UK director Tony Grimshaw said: "We realise that our employees are our biggest asset, helping take us from humble beginnings in 1999 to a company with more than 650 superior products, a turnover of £47m and exporting to 63 countries worldwide in just 16 years. It's only right that we share our success with our hard-working colleagues at every level.

"Of course, there are many jobs within the company that pay well above the Living Wage, but we are proud to commit to it as our absolute minimum. Even new colleagues will achieve this pay level after a very short initial induction and training period."