The initiative, launched by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, aims to encourage businesses in the borough to pay the real Living Wage and to get accredited through the Living Wage Foundation.
The real Living Wage is the only wage rate independently calculated based on what people need to provide for themselves and their families. It takes into account rising costs – including fuel, energy, rent and food. The real Living Wage rate is currently set at £11.95 in London. Businesses that pay this rate to all directly employed and sub-contracted staff, can become accredited Living Wage Employers to show their commitment to their staff, partners, funders and other businesses and stakeholders.
Councillor Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Business and Skills, said:
“Promoting a real Living Wage is one of the Council’s key priorities for tackling in-work poverty in the borough amidst the cost of living crisis, particularly for the lowest paid. Since 2013, the Council has been an accredited Living Wage Employer and has since established a Business Rates Relief Scheme for registered Living Wage businesses.
“We want to continue to support and elevate the businesses that put their employees first during the current crisis. This small grant scheme provides another incentive for employers who want to do the right thing by paying the real Living Wage and helps them to cement their commitment by getting the accreditation.
“Adopting the real Living Wage benefits employers as well as workers. This is why it’s at the front and centre of our work to tackle the cost of living crisis.”
The Council’s grants scheme covers the cost of three years of accreditation through the Living Wage Foundation for the first 100 businesses, of 250 employees or less, that come forward. There are currently 85 accredited businesses in Royal Greenwich, with more in the process of joining up.
Businesses who wish to apply, and fulfil the criteria for the grants scheme, can do so easily by filling out a form. Find out more here.
Promoting the London Living Wage also forms one of the key pillars of the Community Wealth Building Strategy for Royal Greenwich.
Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We’d like to congratulate the Royal Borough of Greenwich on the launch of its grants initiative, which will help and support more businesses in Royal Greenwich to gain Living Wage accreditation. With the cost of living rising, it’s never been more important for workers to earn a real Living Wage, calculated based on the cost of living.”
Marco Olmi, Managing Director at Drury Tea & Coffee Co., an accredited Living Wage Employer in Royal Greenwich, said: “As a fourth-generation family business we care about our employees, paying the London Living Wage proves this and is vital in cementing the relationship between all our colleagues. Paying the London Living Wage is not always the easy path for a business, but it is the right path.”
