Toolstation has introduced a pay rise of 9.4% for 5,500 staff members at entry level, and in all store and operations roles.

The move means that the hourly rate for entry level colleagues will increase to £10.60.

Jag Nagra, HR Director for Toolstation, said: “We are a business that cares about our colleagues, and this investment recognises their hard work and is designed to support them with the rising costs they face.

“We have also introduced a series of policies designed to promote wellbeing and provide support for different life events. These initiatives are integral to our ambition to create a workplace that supports colleagues in moments that matter and may have an impact on their working lives.”

The workplace initiatives cover the following: 

  • Flexible working for staff members who have worked at Toolstation for a minimum of 13 weeks
  • 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks maternity, adoption, or surrogacy leave
  • Two weeks paid paternity leave 
  • Up to 10 additional days of leave for new parents for the two years following the birth of their child
  • Two days paid leave for those undergoing fertility treatment or an IVF cycle 
  • Two weeks paid leave for those affected by miscarriage and two days paid leave for affected partners
  • A trans and gender reassignment policy that supports transitioning staff members, provides single sex spaces, and promotes the use of non-gendered terminology when referring to a group of individuals or an individual of unspecified gender identity
  • A menopause policy providing a range of adjustments to support staff experiencing the menopause

Toolstation has also taken steps to help promote positive emotional wellbeing at work, including introducing a network of trained mental-health first aiders and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for those needing support or advice for their mental health.

The business has also recently introduced the Aviva DigiCare+ Workplace App. The benefits of this include an annual health check, access to a digital GP, a second medical opinion, and mental health and nutritional consultations.