Increase in ‘real’ living wage employers in Winchester matching the cost-of-living

The Living Wage Foundation encourages employers to sign up to pay a "real" living wage, which is higher than the minimum wage and reflective to living costs.

The rate, which is calculated by a group of economists and applies to employees aged 18 and over, currently stands at £9.90 per hour across the UK and £11.05 in London, to reflect higher prices in the capital.

For comparison, the Government's living wage stands at £9.50 per hour for people aged 23 and over, and £9.18 for over 21s.

There are now more than 15 accredited real living wage employers in Winchester as of the start of July, up from 11 at the same point last year.

The soaring cost of fuel, energy and food has put wages under the spotlight. Leah Campbell, CEO of accredited Winchester living wage employer, Action Hampshire, said: "Our staff team are our greatest asset as an organisation. Having experienced poverty in my own life, I know that no one can do their job well if they are struggling to meet their basic needs. 

"With so many changes happening in the economy, it’s hard as an individual employer to know what a fair wage is – signing up to the living wage also helps to give us an indication of what our minimum salaries should be, without having to do significant research on our own.

"As a support organisation for charities, community groups and social enterprises, we know the financial pressures in the sector right now, and that some VCSE employers will struggle to offer the Living Wage. However, we believe it is the right thing to do for our charity and we are proud to be part of this campaign."

Winchester based telecommunications and solutions company Kid-A also shared why they feel its important to be a real living wage employer.

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Co-founder Andy Silcock said: “We want to create the most amazing workplace we can, as we believe in treating our amazing people who have helped us build Kid-A as best we can. That’s why we are proud to be a real wage employer. We wanted to build a creative and unique environment in which our employees can produce their best work, which as a result, benefits our partners and customers. Being a real wage employer is a very important building block in creating that environment.

“We don’t want to collect badges but joining causes such as living wage, is important especially as we are entering unprecedented times with the cost-of-living increase – we want to ensure our people get the support they need but fundamentally be the best employer we can be. We want to attract and retain the best talent out there and these accreditations are an important lighthouse to signal that talent in the market."

BeGreen Cleaning, based in Staple Gardens, registered with the living wage scheme as soon as the business began around three years ago. The cleaning service supporting its work force of 20 to 30 people. Managing director Shaun Brogan said: “People need money to live so it’s a no brainer. We’re an ethical and environmentally focussed company we try to do right by all and for us it’s part of our DNA to pay people a living wage.

“It’s just giving people enough money to live and recognising that this is more than a minimum wage job.”

Other Winchester companies accredited as real living wage employers include:

• Savills- Winchester, Jewry Street.
• Big Mallet Ltd, Jewry Street.
• Earthian Zero Waste Shop, Parchment Street.
• Barclays Bank PLC- Winchester, Jewry Street.
• Oxfam Books and Music- Winchester, Parchment Street.
• CUPE International, St Thomas Street.
• The University of Winchester.
• Williams & Co- Winchester, Winnall.
• GEP Environmental- Winchester, Basepoint Business Centre.
• Warrens Office, Moorside Road.
• Oxfam Shop, High Street.
• Nationwide Building Society- Winchester, High Street.
• Rathbone Brothers Plc- Winchester, Southgate Street.
• Secure Meters (UK), Moorside Road, Winnall
• Jude’s, Northfields Farm, Twyford

Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said the cost-of-living crisis has made increasing wages for the low-paid "more important than ever".

She said: “Paying the living wage is not only the right thing to do for struggling workers and families, but it’s also good for businesses, with employers benefitting from greater staff morale and productivity, and reduced staff absenteeism and turnover".

The foundation announced in May that 10,000 employers had signed up to the scheme – covering nearly 350,000 workers, or around 1 in 13 employees in the UK.

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As of July 1, there were 10,765 organisations paying the real living wage across the UK, up from 8,107 in 2021 and 3,383 in 2017.

Researchers at Cardiff University estimate this has provided an extra £1.8bn to low-paid staff.

The latest estimates from the Bank of England suggest inflation could hit 13% in the fourth quarter of this year. A spokesperson for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: "We know the pressures people are facing with rising costs, which is why we have continually taken action to help households by phasing in £37 billion worth of support.

For more go to livingwage.org.uk/.