Premier League football club Everton has signed up to the Living Pension accreditation, pledging to support all its staff to save for a decent standard of living in retirement.
The Living Pension accreditation is awarded by the Living Wage Foundation and recognises organisations that achieve an annual pension savings target for their employees. It also commits employers to pay pension contributions of at least 7% of salary, more than twice the legal minimum level.
This target is currently £2,950, which equates to 12% of a full-time living wage salary. Each Everton employee – including backroom staff and matchday workers – will now receive pension contributions of at least £2,950 a year, with a minimum of £1,720 coming from the club. This is pro-rated for part-time workers.
Among the 75 other companies to have been awarded the Living Pension accreditation are law firms Sackers and Herbert Smith Freehills, financial services giants Aviva and Legal & General, as well as Smart Pension, Isio and Phoenix Group.
Everton is already an accredited Living Wage employer alongside 15 other professional football clubs, but it is the first to become a Living Pension accredited employer.
Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We are delighted that Everton is leading the way as a responsible employer by becoming the first Premier League Club to sign up to the Living Pension.
“Just as the real Living Wage ensures workers can meet their everyday needs today, the Living Pension helps them plan for a retirement where they can live with dignity and security.
“By signing up to the Living Pension, Everton, as a prominent football club, is sending a powerful message that everyone should have a decent standard of living now and in the future.”
Alison Haynes, chief tax and people officer at Everton FC, said: “The club has for many years made pension contributions on behalf of our people that are considerably in excess of the auto-enrolment requirements.
“Now with the support of our new owners The Friedkin Group, we are able to take this further step to improve the lives in retirement of our valued colleagues.”
Everton was acquired by The Friedkin Group in December.
