Motor factor and workshop equipment distributor Andrew Page has made the decision to reward all of its staff over the age of 18 with at least the National Living Wage.

Since April 1 the Government has mandated a National Living Wage for employees aged 25 and above.

However, in a move that recognises the young aspiring members of the team, Andrew Page will be introducing the new wage for all employees above 18.

Following a record-breaking year in 2015, supported by additional funding being secured in December, the Andrew Page network – and its workforce – is expected to develop further through 2016. The company’s strong performance last year was supported by investing in its fleet of delivery vehicles, telematics systems, stock availability and warehousing infrastructure.

Mark Saunders, chief executive at Andrew Page said: “The significant levels of investment we made in 2015 have had a positive impact on sales performance, which has led to us being able to offer this wage increase to our team members aged 18 and above.”

The strategic growth will be maintained through additional investment in 2016, including the introduction of more Andrew Page retail stores, the first of which have been operational since early 2015.

“Changes to employment legislation such as this will always have an impact on the industry as they ultimately affect a company’s operating costs,” added Jim Sumner, Andrew Page’s chairman. “We are in a strong position to not just accept but go beyond these changes.”

Sumner added: “We recognise that our teams play a huge role in the success of the company, so we want to ensure we retain that talent by sharing our success. All team members are responsible in part for the continued growth of the network, and the younger members of the team are the future of the company so should be treated the same way as the rest of the team.”

The workforce has always been an integral part of the Andrew Page network, with a large focus on building relationships and providing a customer-focussed service at every level. Hiring the right people and retaining them is a priority of Andrew Page’s, with the decision to go beyond the requirements of the living wage just one of the ways by which the company is seeking to achieve this.

“Our background is as a family-run business, which is something we have maintained throughout Andrew Page’s history. The ethos of ‘The Autoparts People’ underlines this and reinforces the message that we very much focus on the people behind the company,” explained Simon Mullin, sales & marketing director at Andrew Page.”

The Andrew Page network currently has 109 branches nationwide, and plans seven further stores in 2016 plus expansions to its franchise programme and e-commerce operations.