SCOTLAND’S canals are making an increasingly vital contribution to the nation’s economy, according to the boss of the organisation in charge of the waterways.

Steve Dunlop says the 250-strong workforce of Scottish Canals is a central part of this renaissance and that is why the public body is an accredited living wage employer.

Scotland’s 250-year-old canals were once the thoroughfares that stoked the fires of the industrial revolution, carrying goods and passengers all over the nation.

The Forth and Clyde, Union and Monkland canals in the Lowlands, the Crinan Canal in Argyll and the Caledonian Canal in the Highlands together extend over 137 miles from coast to coast, across country and into the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.

Today, Scottish Canals is utilising these 18th-century assets along with innovative technology to tackle modern problems, breathing new life into the communities on their banks with transformative projects such as the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel.

Now home to cyclists and social enterprises rather than coal scows and Clydesdale horses, the canals are increasingly vital venues for business, leisure and tourism that attract more than 22 million visits a year.

“We’re proud to be a Scottish Living Wage accredited employer,” Dunlop said. “Scotland’s canals are making an increasingly vital contribution to the nation’s economy in the form of tourism, place making, and job creation.

“None of that would have been possible without the hard work of our staff and they are central to ensuring our inland waterways continue to deliver all they can for all of the people of Scotland. As a public body, it’s only right that we celebrate and give fair reward for that hard work.

“Being a living wage employer sends a strong message to our partners, stakeholders and the public about what kind of organisation we are. We can’t expect our employees to help deliver lasting positive change in canalside communities if they’re worried about making ends meet. Providing a good standard of living for our staff means we get the best from them but, more importantly, it’s the right thing to do. I’d encourage any other employer to do the same.”

Lauren Hendrie, 25, who works for Scottish Canals at the Falkirk Wheel, said the living wage was helping her to make plans for the future. “To know your employer is going above and beyond is a nice feeling and it’s definitely an incentive to do your best for them,” she said.

“Everyone, regardless of age, is paid the same rate for the same job, which is makes the work environment less tense and removes any resentment; it creates an even playing field for staff. As an adult, I don’t want to have to rely on my parents for financial support.

“I want to be independent. The living wage means I can manage my budget for everyday expenses, save some money and make plans for the future, such as buying a home.”

IT apprentice Neil Pyott, 19, said he was pleasantly surprised to learn he would be paid the living wage.

“Joining Scottish Canals as an apprentice and being paid the living wage was something I didn’t expect but it says a lot about the type of employer they are,” he said. “I think you get the best out of people if they feel valued and being paid the living wage is a big part of that.

“It definitely makes me feel valued as an employee and, even as an apprentice, I feel as if I’m treated as an equal.”