Tom Levitt, Associate Lecturer and Sustainability Lead at UWL’s Claude Littner Business School was the Master of Ceremonies at the annual Ealing Living Wage Place awards in UWL’s Freddie’s recently. The awards celebrated Ealing employers for making exceptional contributions to their employees, sectors, and communities.
The host was surprised when, at the end of the event, which recognised Living Wage employers across the Borough – he was singled out for a special award: Living Wage Champion.
The Living Wage is a voluntary pay threshold slightly above the legal minimum wage (and higher again here in London where costs are higher). Over 16,000 organisations nationwide now pay the Living Wage.
Councillor Kamaljit Kaur Nagpal, Ealing Council’s Cabinet member for Decent Living Incomes, took to the stage and made the announcement before presenting Tom with a trophy.
When Tom joined UWL in 2022 he suggested that the University should become a Living Wage employer and this was duly achieved in 2023. A year later UWL Students’ Union – which also received recognition with a Highly Commended award this year – joined the ranks.
Co-Chair of the Ealing Living Wage Place board, Tom has chaired several Living Wage business breakfasts for the Council. The campaign is halfway towards achieving its goal of 200 Living Wage employers in the Borough.
He also leads the Staff Sustainability Network at UWL, supporting the University’s programme to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Tom commented:
“Organisations that pay staff the absolute minimum deprive their employees of dignity – and they pay a high price for that. With dignity comes productivity, loyalty and long service. The Living Wage contributes to dignity at work and reduces reliance on benefits, too.”
