Welcome to Living Wage Week 2024! Issue 91 is our Special Living Wage Week Edition of the Business Update. This edition focuses on celebrating the growing movement of local Living Wage Employers in Newham. These employers are committed to good employment practices and ensure their staff receive a real Living Wage, which is the only wage rate in the UK based on actual living costs. 

Join us on Wednesday 6 November and go a step beyond.

NEWHAM NEWS

Champion the Living Wage Movement

The Living Wage Foundation provides accreditation to employers who pay the Real Living Wage to their workers. The Living Wage accreditation is the mark of responsible employment, showing that an employer has made a commitment to keeping wages in line with the cost of living. 

Last month the Living Wage Foundation announced the increase in London's 'Real Living Wage' to £13.85 per hour, benefiting over 140,000 workers. This is a 5.3% increase from the previous rate of £13.15, which is paid by 4,000 London employers. The rise will make a significant difference to nearly half a million workers.

To learn more about how the Living Wage rate is calculated:

Many low-paid workers continue to feel the effects of high prices, research shows that 42% have less than £10 left over each week after covering necessities, 39% have used a food bank in the past year, and 32% have skipped meals due to financial constraints.

The Living Wage accreditation benefits both workers and employers, with 94% of employers stating they have improved recruitment and retention, 87% enhancing their reputation, and 62% enhancing recruitment. It also ensures an organisation remains competitive in funding and contract bidding, with nearly 40% of employers reporting accreditation has helped secure contracts and funding.

Getting accredited as a Real Living Wage employer is simple, get started in three easy steps: 

1. Paying the real Living Wage to all directly employed staff
2. Have a plan to pay your contractors a Living Wage
3. Complete the online application form. 

For more information:

Reserve Your Seat at This Year’s Living Wage Event

Wednesday 6 November – 10am-12:30pm 

Divisible Space, Sugar House Island E15

Living Wage Week is the annual celebration of the Living Wage movement. This movement has never been more important than now against the backdrop of spiralling prices and the pressure of the rising cost of living, so we want to celebrate the employers and individuals who are championing the Living Wage movement.

To register:

Fair pay for all – looking back at a decade of achievement

In 2011 the University of East London (UEL) became one of the first anchor institutions in east London to become a Living Wage Employer. 

Since its foundation in 1898, UEL has driven positive change through education, research, and knowledge exchange, as well as community wealth building, aiming to tackle economic and health inequalities through access to higher education and embedding socially responsible practices, and are a key member of the Royal Docks Living Wage Action Group, working to promote and support businesses and organisations adopting the Living Wage. 

To see how it has collaborated with the Living Wage Foundation since achieving accreditation, take a look back on its journey with Professor Amanda J. Broderick, UEL’s Vice-Chancellor and President:

Be Heard: Help Shape the Council’s Future Budget! 

Monday 11 November – 6:30-8:30pm 

Online: MS Teams

Join Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE for an online session on Monday 11 November to help shape the Council's future budget. The session will focus on the Council's budget, bridging the budget gap for 2025/26. The council is under significant pressure to address rising costs and the growing demand related to the ongoing housing crisis and needs your input to shape spending priorities. The session will cover areas where the council can save money, divert spending, increase income, mitigate changes, and deliver services more efficiently. 

Ticket sign-up closes on November 11th at 5pm.

For more information and to register:

Unable to attend? By completing our online survey, you can also express your opinions about how we should allocate our funds and safeguard essential services:

The Living Wage Accreditation: Good for the Community, Better for Business

The Living Wage network spans over 15,000 accredited employers across the UK and there are currently over 90 based in Newham. This includes the following employers: Tate and Lyle Sugars, The Greater London Authority and ExCeL London. Accredited Living Wage Employers in Newham are demonstrating their commitment to ensuring their staff are able to meet daily needs through the accreditation and the wider Living Wage network have cited that the Living Wage accreditation has helped with the recruitment and retention of staff, as well as enhancing the reputation of the business. 

The Sunborn Hotel accredited as a Living Wage Employer in 2023 and Andrea Barnabe, HR Manager at The Sunborn, previously expressed what the accreditation meant to them:

Don’t Miss Your Chance To Recognise Newham’s Unsung Heroes!

The 2024 Newham Civic Awards, in association with Berkeley, have launched to celebrate the individuals, groups and organisations that are building a better, fairer borough. There are 10 award categories, including the Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by Excel London, the Create and Thrive Award sponsored by Foundation for Future London and East Bank, and the Community Wealth Builder Award sponsored by Lendlease for Silvertown and Stratford Cross, which recognises businesses that employ local people and contribute to the borough’s economy.

Other categories include the Green Champion Award, the Youth Excellence Award sponsored by Westfield Stratford City, and the Well Newham Award + many more!

Winners and nominators will be invited to a grand ceremony in February 2025. The deadline to submit nominations is Monday 11 November.

For more information and to make a nomination: 

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