Monday August 24th 2026
Fern Coffee Bar is among 15 Glasgow businesses and attractions featured on the new Living Wage Trail
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Catherine Hunter
A new Living Wage Trail has launched in Glasgow in a bid to encourage people to explore the city and support fair pay.
Glasgow City Region has launched a Glasgow Living Wage Trail, which allows people to explore local spots across the city while supporting businesses that pay the real Living Wage.
The trail features 15 accredited Living Wage employers across Glasgow, spanning cafes, museums, retail, live music venues and more.
The real Living Wage currently stands at £13.45 an hour, independently calculated each year based on what people actually need to cover the cost of living – including household bills, food, transport and more.
People can follow the trail using an interactive online map, or a printed map and flyer to tick off stops along the way.
Jennifer Clapp, owner of Peacock’s Ice Cream, said: “We pursued Living Wage accreditation because it’s simply the right thing to do. We believe that if people work hard, they deserve to be paid fairly for their time and effort.
“As a small independent business, we try to lead by example and stay true to our principles.
“Being a Living Wage employer reflects the kind of business we want Peacock’s Ice Cream to be – one that values and respects the people who help make it a success.”
Gillian Frew, Co-Owner of Fat Buddha, added: “Looking after our team has always been important to us.
“We recognise that our staff are at the heart of the business, and we wanted to make sure they were paid a wage that genuinely reflects the cost of living, not just the legal minimum, and make sure they can afford to come to work each day.”
The trail was developed by Glasgow City Region in partnership with Living Wage Scotland, and is part of the ongoing campaign to Make Glasgow City Region a Living Wage Place.
The campaign, which launched in November 2024, aims to increase the number of accredited employers across the Region and raise awareness of the real Living Wage.
In November 2025, the campaign marked a major milestone, surpassing its ambitious year one target of 200 new Living Wage accredited employers in the Region and bringing the total number of accredited employers across Glasgow City Region to over 1,300.
Stefan Hunter, Founder and Director of IOLLA, said: “Our commitment has helped make an impact on the lives of people who live in our economy and community.
“We hope that by IOLLA making this commitment we can lead the way for other retailers to do the same, so we can all collectively live happier, more fulfilling lives.”
Fern Coffee Bar and Sandwich Shop, said: “As a proud, accredited real Living Wage employer, Fern ensures its team works in sustainable, fair conditions – a care that directly reflects in the expertise and daily effort they pour into the menu, and the warm energy of the space.”
To explore visit https://glasgowcityregion.co.uk/livingwagetrail or to find out more about becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer contact accreditation@povertyalliance.org or visit Living Wage Scotland at: https://scottishlivingwage.org/
Full list of businesses featured on the Trail:
– IOLLA
– Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
– The Mitchell Library
– Glasgow Film Theatre
– The Good Spirits Co.
– Wild Olive Tree Café
– Fat Buddha
– Fern Coffee Bar and Sandwich Shop
– Street Level Photoworks
– McChuills Music Bar and Venue
– Glasgow Women’s Library
– Tramway
– Queen’s Park
– Tantrum Doughnuts
– Peacock’s Ice Cream
