AN INDEPENDENT business which offers more than the living wage has won an award.

Sparkles Cleaning Services, which has an office in the Goodsheds in Barry and covers Wales and West, won the Living Wage Award at the Employees Choice Awards.

This is due to the independent company – which offers commercial cleaning, end of tenancy cleaning, and one-off deep cleaning – offering its employees the real living wage.

In the UK the minimum wage for people under 23 is £9.18, the national living wage for people over 23 is £9.90, while the real living wage – which is based on what pay staff need to meet everyday needs – is an average of £9.90 across the UK.

Sparkles Cleaning Services pays its employees above the living wage and was nominated by employees for the award.

Barry And District News:

Managing director of the company, Ceri Jennings, said:

“We are privileged to be able to pay above the living wage.

“I was thrilled to be invited to an award ceremony in London where we won the Employees’ Choice Award.

“A massive thank you to all the employees that took the time to put Sparkles forward for this; I feel proud and humbled.”

The awards recognise and celebrate living wage employers and individuals that are leading the movement by promoting the real living wage in their industries, supply chain and areas, leading to outstanding contributions to communities and industries across the UK.  

Along with offering employees more than the living wage, Sparkles Cleaning Services is a Disability Confident Employer as it recruits, retains, and helps develop disabled people through work.

Ms Jennings was diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age – when the condition was not well understood – and she felt alienated at school and early in her career due to a lack of support and awareness, which is why she is passionate about promoting diversity.

Last year the company also won an award for Best Diversity and Inclusion Initiative - beating Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, ONS, and South Wales Police – at the CIPD Wales Awards.