Boost your reputation, recruitment, and retention of staff with the London Living Wage

James Reed Senior Programme Officer Living Wage Unit at Southwark Council

Everyone can agree that a fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. But it’s not just about fairness and making sure people earn a wage that meets their everyday needs. Paying the London Living Wage is good for business too.

There are now over 350 accredited Living Wage Employers in Southwark who pay their staff the London Living Wage of £13.15 per hour. It’s the only UK wage rate that accounts for the additional costs of living in London. Employers pay the London Living Wage on a voluntary basis. A survey of accredited Living Wage Employers found that:

• 94% reported having benefited from their accreditation

• 87% say it improved their reputation

• 60% said it improved retention rates of employees

• 62% say it improved recruitment of employees into their business

You can be formally recognised for paying the London Living Wage and become an accredited Living Wage Employer through a scheme run by the Living Wage Foundation. In Southwark, there have been over 40 new accreditations in 2024 so far and counting. Many of them had their sign up fees covered through Southwark Council’s Living Wage Grant Scheme, which is open to businesses with 250 employees or less until March 2026.

Jessica Rimmoch, Founder, Jarr Market (Herne Hill): “Being a Living Wage Employer gives us credibility with our customers as they know that we give our staff the salary that they deserve.”

Will Holdoway, Co-Founder and Director of Method Events (Elephant and Castle): “We decided to become an accredited Living Wage Employer to demonstrate our commitment to our staff and their well-being, acknowledging the hard work and dedication they bring to our projects.”

Jane Swift, CEO, Borough Market (Borough): “The financial benefit of paying the London Living Wage is that it makes sure we have loyal staff, so when people come to work here they stay for longer. We don’t have repeated recruitment costs.”

Felicia Boshorin, CEO, Spring Community Hub (Camberwell): “When staff don’t earn enough money their morale is low and they can’t meet their needs, this affects the way they work. Happy staff, happy organisation.”

Paying the London Living Wage is one the most effective strategies a business can implement to support their employees to live comfortably in London. Over 5,000 people who work in Southwark have received a pay rise because their employer has become an accredited Living Wage Employer.

Dan C. Installer at Bay Media (Bermondsey Street): “Bay Media’s Living Wage policy allows me to support my family more comfortably.”

Carla Sofia Cardso Pinto, Food Services Coordinator, Spring Community Hub: “I can now do more with my children and afford to buy a car. It has helped me in my personal life a lot.”

Bosco Katabazi, Cleaner at Borough Market: “I can afford to pay my bills and pay my bills on time. That’s because I work for company that pays the London Living Wage.”

The Living Wage movement in Southwark has gone from strength to strength this year. Driving this forward is Southwark Living Wage Place Group with Southwark Council. They are a group of 25 accredited Living Wage Employers who are committed to ensuring that more local workers earn a wage which is enough to live on. They include Borough Market, Mercato Metropolitano, British Land, London Southbank University and Kings College London.

Apply to become a new London Living Wage employer at www.livingwage.org.uk

Newly accredited Living Wage Employers with 250 employees or less in Southwark can get their sign up fees covered by Southwark Council. For more information, contact SouthwarkBusinessDesk@ southwark.gov.uk

Scan the barcode to complete a survey on the London Living Wage. Employers who complete the survey will be entered into prize draw to win a £100 voucher from Grazing who are a catering company based in Bermondsey.