Everton sign up to living wage pension scheme

Everton will start the season in the Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock

Everton have become the first Premier League football club to sign up to the Living Wage Foundation's pension scheme.

The move will help ensure workers, such as backroom staff and matchday stewards, are able to put money aside to secure a decent standard of living in retirement.

"With the support of our new owners TFG, we are able to take this further step to improve the lives in retirement of our valued colleagues," said Everton FC's chief tax and people officer Alison Haynes.

The announcement comes as Everton prepares to kick off the season in their new £750m stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, after moving from Goodison Park.

The living pension is a voluntary savings target for employers who want to tackle low pension saving.

Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said Everton "is sending a powerful message that everyone should have a decent standard of living, now and in the future".

She added: "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."

The management at the Toffees said the club had gone beyond the minimum legal requirement for staff pensions, in order to help keep workers out of poverty in later life.

"The club has for many years made pension contributions on behalf of our people which are considerably in excess of the auto-enrolment requirements," said Ms Haynes, as she announced the decision to join the Living Wage Foundation's pension scheme.

Full-time staff who work at Everton will receive a total annual pension contribution of at least £2,950, with a minimum of £1,720 coming from the club, adjusted on a pro-rata basis for part-time staff.