​Red River Archaeology became an accredited Living Wage Employer in 2020 and we are proud to be supporting the Living Wage movement in Cardiff from our local office and across the UK.  We are committed to ensure every member of staff in our organisation earns not just the minimum wage but the real Living Wage, that is independently set as an hourly rate and updated annually, based on the real cost of living in the UK. 

​There are now over 160 accredited Living Wage employers in Cardiff, employing 64,000 workers. Almost 8,000 people have been uplifted to the real Living Wage as a direct result of accreditation. 

​Unlike the Government minimum wage (‘National Living Wage’ for over 23s - £8.91 rising to £9.50 in April) the real Living Wage is the only wage rate independently calculated based on rising living costs – including fuel, energy, rent and food. The real Living Wage is paid to all workers over the age of 18.

​A full-time worker earning the real Living Wage would earn £1,930 a year more than a worker earning the current government minimum (NLW). For a worker today that’s the equivalent of seven months of food bills and more than five months' rent based on average household spending in the UK. Even on next April’s higher NLW rate of £9.50, a full-time worker on the real Living Wage would earn £780 more.

You can find out more about the Living Wage by visiting www.livingwage.org.uk
#MakingCardiffaLivingWageCity  #LivingWageWeek

​Recently a team from Red River Archaeology has been conducting field surveys in North Wales in advance and during line replacement work for the National Grid. These power lines are vital to the infrastructure of the country and cross a rich historic landscape, containing numerous archaeological sites. Part of this work has involved scheduled monument condition studies, before during and after work on the nearby pylons and lines. These surveys and monitoring were conducted to ensure that no damage was done to any of the monuments along the route of the power lines. These monuments form a significant element of the historic landscape, but what are they and why are they important?