The Authority’s Definition of ‘Lowest-Paid’ Employees
The Authority regards its lowest-paid employees to be those employed on its Green Book conditions of employment. These are employees who do not wear a uniform and who work in administrative and corporate function areas. Employees can be employed on grades which range from 2 to 12. The Authority currently only has one Grade 2 posts in its establishment which is an intern placement position. It has removed most of its Grade 3 posts due to a job evaluation process, where it has reviewed its support and administrative roles giving these greater responsibility, therefore increasing the roles to Grade 4.
The Authority recognises that the necessary training and development can be provided in-house over a relatively short period and therefore specific skills or experience are not specified as essential at the recruitment stage. The Authority is committed to supporting all staff to develop and in addition a number of teams have built into their structure, graded progression posts.
The salary range that applies to grade 3 is £19,000 - £21,419. The minimum hourly rate for a grade 3 role is £9.87 per hour, which is greater than the current National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage (£8.72 per hour as at 31 October 2020). The Authority will ensure that with the further increase of the National Living wage in April 2021 that all graded staff will continue to be paid at least the National Living wage.
As at 31 October 2020 there were 6 apprentices working within the support functions of IT, HR, Business Support, Fleet and Property and 18 wholetime apprentices who as part of their two year development plan have been placed on the firefighter apprenticeship standard.
The apprentices are currently paid £5.76 per hour. After the first 12 months, if an apprentice is performing well they will be placed on the national living wage dependent on age.
The Authority has met the requirements under the Apprenticeship levy.