Lambeth Council is on a journey to make the borough a Living Wage Place, using a place-based approach to support families, communities, and our local economy by uplifting low-paid workers to the real Living Wage. It provides an opportunity for employers to play a role in tackling low pay and providing additional support to households facing financial pressures due to Covid-19, and the cost-of-living crisis.
Because of these pressures, being paid a Living Wage is more important than ever for employees and jobseekers looking to re-enter the labour market. As a business, the benefits of paying the London Living Wage are demonstrable, with 75% of Living Wage accredited businesses reporting improved motivation and retention rates for their employees.
Additionally:
- 86% say it has improved the reputation of the business
- 75% say it has increased motivation and retention rates for employees
- 64% say it has helped differentiate themselves from others in the industry
- 58% say it improved relations between managers and their staff
You can apply to the Living Wage Foundation for accreditation if all your directly employed employees are being paid the living wage, and you plan to extend that to regular sub-contracted staff as well.
Below are just some of the benefits of becoming a London Living Wage accredited business:
- Appear on the Living Wage Foundation website and searchable map so that consumers, prospective employees and funding organisations can see who pays a real living wage
- Access to guidance on implementing the Living Wage through procurement, including templates, clauses and case studies
- Accredited employers are eligible to use the Living Wage Employer logo, sending a positive message to other businesses in the community. Demonstrating commitment to fair pay and could attract potential customers, employees and funders
- Get a Living Wage Employer plaque and information on how to be a part of Living Wage Week celebrations
All membership subscriptions run for 12 months and the cost varies according to the size of your business, starting at £60 per year for those with fewer than 10 employees.
Lambeth businesses becoming Living Wage Accredited may also be eligible for a rebate to the full value of the first year’s accreditation.
Three simple steps to becoming London Living Wage Accredited:
- First ensure that all directly employed staff over the age of 18 are paid no less than the London Living Wage rate of £11.95 an hour. Accreditation can be gained at the point at which only directly employed staff are being paid the Living Wage. The accreditation process can be completed in stages, for example, directly employed staff first, with contracted staff, such as cleaners, moved on to the Living Wage at a future date to be agreed.
- Simply register online to receive an information pack to start the accreditation process.
- Complete the full application form and enter in the section marked “Schedule 3 – Phased Implementation and enter your milestones”. If it is not possible to move contracted/agency staff members to the Living Wage straight away, this can be implemented in a phased approach by moving the contracts to Living Wage when contract renewals take place.
Click here if you would like to become a Living Wage Accredited business. If you have any queries or would like to discuss Living Wage accreditation, send an email to opportunitylambeth@lambeth.gov.uk with Living Wage accreditation in the subject line.