AN INVESTMENT this year in independent Ilkley Brewery by Half Full Beer Company is said to be showing immediate progress.

The Half Full vision was to improve conditions and standards, and to increase production capacity.

Investment in the team is integral to the vision, and one of the immediate steps made was to register as a Living Wage Employer, and increase the rates of pay across the board.

The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Ilkley Brewery – regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors – receive a minimum hourly wage of £7.85, significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.50. The commitment will continue into 2016 with a rise to £8.25.

The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. It is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public.

Ilkley Brewery co-director, Luke Raven, said: “We are proud to be raising our voice amongst a growing number of businesses across the UK, who support their staff by paying the Living Wage.

“Our beer is made by people, by hand, and we rely on their passion and commitment. By recognising their hard work in this way, we hope to be able to foster a greater sense of shared ownership in the long-term project here at Ilkley Brewery.”

Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross-party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Ilkley Brewery has also committed to a programme of job creation, with a 60 per cent increase in headcount by the end of 2015.

Mr Raven says the brewery has already invested more than £140,000 in the infrastructure at Ilkley Brewery since August this year, including taking on an additional storage facility, with additional expansion in the pipeline.

"I think this emphasises our commitment to grow Ilkley Brewery into one of the top independent breweries in the UK,” he added