Living Wage Foundation

The Living Wage Foundation are the organisation at the heart of the independent movement of businesses, organisations and people that campaign for the simple idea that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. They celebrate and recognise the leadership of responsible employers who choose to go further and pay a real Living Wage based on the cost of living, not just the government minimum.

The Living Wage Foundation do three things: 

1. Accredit: The Living Wage Foundation offer accreditation to employers that pay the independently-calculated Living Wage rates to all staff in London and the UK, or those committed to an agreed timetable of implementation, by awarding the Living Wage Employer Mark. They also offer a Service Provider Recognition Scheme for third party contractors who ensure their own staff are earning the real Living Wage rates and always offer a Living Wage option when submitting tenders.

2. Intelligence: The Living Wage Foundation coordinate the announcement of the real Living Wage rates each November, based on the best available evidence about living standards in London and the UK. They also provide advice and support to employers and service providers implementing the independently-calculated Living Wage rates. This includes best practice guides, case studies from leading employers, model procurement frameworks and access to specialist legal and HR advice. 

3. Influence: The Living Wage Foundation provide a forum for leading employers and service providers to publicly join the independent movement of organisations, businesses and people campaigning for a wage which is enough to live on. They work with Principal Partners who bring financial and strategic support to our work. They also coordinate Living Wage Week each November, a UK-wide celebration of the Living Wage movement.