Murray Landscapes has secured a gold award under North Lanarkshire Council’s Employer Charter, becoming the scheme’s 100th accredited employer and signalling further momentum behind fair work and local procurement across the area.
What the Employer Charter asks of businesses
The council’s charter is built around four clear commitments that aim to embed better work and strengthen the local economy. Employers are encouraged to:
- Pay all staff the real Living Wage;
- Recruit North Lanarkshire residents where possible;
- Prioritise local suppliers within their supply chains;
- Adopt fair work practices that help attract and retain staff.
Participating organisations are recognised with bronze, silver or gold accreditation for meeting at least two of these commitments. Gold is the highest tier, reserved for employers demonstrating exceptional alignment with the charter’s principles.
Why Murray Landscapes was recognised
The landscaping business earned the top award for a broad programme of local support and community engagement. According to the council, Murray Landscapes has backed local residents, schools, charities, grassroots sport and workplace wellbeing through hands-on volunteering and practical assistance. Its accreditation takes the charter to a milestone of 100 employers now formally recognised in North Lanarkshire.
“Congratulations to Murray Landscapes on achieving a gold award and on becoming our 100th Employer Charter recipient. We are proud that so many local businesses have shown a commitment to investing in their employees and being a responsible business by applying for the charter… It delivers benefits for both employers and employees as well as supporting our continuing work to develop a sustainable, diverse economy in North Lanarkshire.”
Other employers recognised this round
Infrastructure and engineering contractor Hochtief, which provides infrastructure maintenance services for North Lanarkshire Council, also obtained a gold accreditation. Two further businesses received bronze awards: sports and environmental construction specialist Carrick Sports Construction, and CF Services, a supplier of furnishing, flooring and white goods.
| Employer | Award level |
|---|---|
| Murray Landscapes | Gold |
| Hochtief | Gold |
| Carrick Sports Construction | Bronze |
| CF Services | Bronze |
Why this matters for North Lanarkshire
The charter aims to lift employment standards and anchor more of the local spend within North Lanarkshire. Paying the real Living Wage, recruiting locally and buying from nearby firms are measures designed to circulate money within communities, bolster small suppliers and improve staff retention. For employees, the fair work focus can translate into better pay and workplace practices; for businesses, the council says the scheme offers support and networking events to encourage growth and collaboration.
These latest accreditations also reflect a broader push by public bodies and anchor institutions to prioritise responsible business behaviour in procurement and partnership working. With Hochtief’s role in infrastructure maintenance for the council, its gold status signals expectations around standards that extend into contracted services affecting residents and the local environment.
What employers can take from this
For firms operating in North Lanarkshire, the pathway to accreditation is structured yet flexible: organisations are recognised when they adopt at least two of the charter’s commitments, enabling different sizes and sectors to participate and progress. Those that move to gold demonstrate a comprehensive approach, often blending wage policy with local hiring, supply chain choices and staff-centred practices that aid recruitment and retention.
As more employers meet the standard, the council’s milestone of 100 accredited businesses suggests a growing network of organisations sharing learning and raising expectations across the labour market. That can help level the playing field for responsible employers while making fair work more visible to prospective employees in the area.
The bigger picture
While individual accreditations are symbolic, the cumulative effect can be practical: if suppliers, contractors and community-facing firms align on wage and work norms, it becomes easier for residents to find stable, fairly paid roles without leaving the area. The latest awards underscore that momentum is not limited to one industry, with landscaping, infrastructure, construction and home goods supply all represented this time.
North Lanarkshire Council’s message is that responsible practice is both recognised and supported. As more employers commit, the test will be maintaining depth of engagement—ensuring that commitments to local hiring, fair pay and supplier choices shape day-to-day operations, not just policy statements. Today’s milestone suggests that shift is continuing, with Murray Landscapes’ gold award serving as a marker of progress to date.
