STAFF at Beales will be paid more than the National Living Wage from April, with all workers to be receive at least £10 an hour.

The boss who revived the historic retailing name says the move is intended to help staff with the “desperate crisis in the cost of living”.

The decision means an inflation-busting 13 per cent rise for most staff and 36 per cent for the youngest.

New Start 2020, which reopened Beales branches in Poole, Southport and Peterborough, will also be giving employees five days’ paid leave if they test positive for Covid despite the easing of isolation rules.

The £10-an-hour rate will be more than the government’s National Living Wage, which will rise from £8.91 to £9.50 in April for ages 23 and over.

Beales has told staff that differentials between wage rates will be maintained and that “we hope this goes some way to support you in an ever-changing financial climate”.

Tony Brown, chief executive of New Start 2020, said: “Can we afford it? Not really, but what do you do? Everybody’s facing a desperate crisis in the cost of living, whether it’s food or people losing 1.5pc of their pay to a National Insurance increase.”

He said the Beales board had held a “long discussion” about the issue.

“It matters that we’re trying to help our people and if we can do it as a small company, then hopefully it will encourage other companies to do the same,” he added.

“Everybody’s going to be finding this difficult. We’ve gone ahead with it rather than leave our people having to bear the brunt of this on their own.

“It’s in line with our ethos of helping people in difficult times.”

Unlike the government’s National Living Wage – which will only reach £6.83 for workers aged 18-20 – Beales’s new rate will apply to staff of all ages.

It also oustrips the current "real" living wage determined by the Living Wage Foundation, which is set at £9.90 outside London.

The business employs a total of 150 staff in stores and head office roles, with more than 30 in Poole.

The government recently ended the legal requirement for people with Covid to isolate, although it is still recommended. It also ended self-isolation payments of £500 for people on low incomes.

Earlier this week, Wilko apologised and U-turned after initially telling staff they could work even if they tested positive for Covid-19.

Mr Brown said: “I don’t want people to come in with Covid and giving it to other people.

“Our people are very good. We don’t believe they’ll take advantage and so far they haven’t.”