Mudasir Malik had big ambitions to become a lawyer when he graduated from university. But after jumping around different law firms in Manchester, he felt that working as a paralegal paid 'peanuts' and did not reflect the time and effort he put into the profession.
A conversation with a family friend changed everything. Nearly two years ago, he started working as a security supervisor, looking after the city's tallest buildings at Deansgate Square before moving to a 9 to 5 job at a new office block near Spinningfields.
The job at Adept Corporate Services doesn't pay big bucks, but it is enough for the 28-year-old from Longsight and his wife to get on the property ladder. And last week they did just that, as they picked up the keys for a four-bedroom property in Denton.
READ MORE: Today's top Manchester Evening News stories
Adept was one of the first security firms in the North West to sign up to the Real Living Wage, which means staff are paid at least £12 an hour. Unlike the National Living Wage, which is the minimum an employer must pay by law, the Real Living Wage is based on a calculation of the minimum amount a person needs to be able to live - and it reflects the cost of living by accounting for inflation.
In a typical week, Mudasir will work 45 to 50 hours which means he can expect to earn at least £28,000 over the year with the prospect of earning more by working overtime. Meanwhile, the starting salary at the law firms he worked at was as little as £19,000.
"I made the jump into security because I realised I was able to earn a lot more and there was a degree of flexibility," he said.
"I thought it was a no brainer. What appealed to me was the four days on, four days off - but now I work 9 to 5, Monday to Friday.
"It's helped me feel calmer and happier and reassured. And it's given me a sense of job satisfaction.
"If there's more hours going, there's a big incentive to work it. The company appreciates me."
The certainty of a pay rise every year as the cost of living increases also helped in the house hunt. "I could afford better houses and it made the whole process a lot easier to compete in the current market," he said. "What I have now, I couldn't have afforded before."
Shelley, who is the contracts manager at Adept, says paying the Real Living Wage has made a 'massive difference'. Having worked in the security industry for 23 years, she remembers a time when pay was £4.50 an hour - and that was good back in the day, she says.
But the firm, which looks after the Spinningfields estate, realised that just paying the minimum wage meant that security jobs were not 'cost effective' for staff. All 200 employees at Adept - including cleaners - now earn the Real Living Wage of at least £12 an hour.
"Sometimes security and cleaning are seen as the bottom of the food chain," she said. "The way we treat our staff and pay them what they deserve, that sets a benchmark
"Mudasir can plan his future because he knows exactly what he's getting paid.
"We've always been a people-first organisation. For us to know that our officers are paying their bills, they're looking after their family, they've got food on their tables, that's rewarding as a business.
"Organisations should be looking after their staff as individuals. It's about treating the individuals as human beings.
"It's a positive move for the industry as a whole. I think more companies should be on board."
To mark Living Wage Week, the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is now urging more businesses to sign up to the scheme. Over 14,000 UK businesses pay the Real Living Wage and in Greater Manchester, there are 700 employers currently signed up.
The number of Manchester employers now paying the Real Living Wage has increased to 282 over the last 12 months - a rise of 50.8 per cent - exceeding the targets set for both 2023 and 2024. This had led to a pay rise for 9,020 people across the city in the last year.
Greater Manchester has set a goal of becoming the first city-region to pay all employees a real living wage. This vision is championed by an action group led by mayor Andy Burnham, working with businesses, local authorities, faith groups and voluntary and charities.
He said: "Employers across Greater Manchester increasingly recognise that paying the Real Living Wage and signing up for the Good Employment Charter is good for business, as well as being the right thing to do. As we celebrate Living Wage Week and the progress the movement has made in our city-region, it’s fantastic to see three businesses become such passionate advocates for fair pay."
Greater Manchester’s Good Employment Charter is a voluntary scheme aimed at raising employment standards and wages across the region. And payment of the real living wage is an essential criteria for organisations seeking to become members of the charter.
This week, the organisation teamed up with University of Salford, Manchester council, Salford council, Factory International, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Living Wage Foundation to make a film about the benefits of signing up. According to the three firms which feature in the film - including Adept - the benefits include better recruitment, retention and profits.
Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter director Ian MacArthur said: "We're thrilled to launch this video with our partners, as it amplifies the message that fair wages are the cornerstone of good employment practices. It will serve as a catalyst for positive change, inspiring businesses across Greater Manchester and beyond to sign up to the Real Living Wage and contribute to a thriving local economy that benefits all its residents."
