About the Living Wage
The Living Wage is the only UK wage rate that’s independently set each year. There’s a higher rate for London because it’s calculated using the real cost of living. It’s set by the Living Wage Foundation.
The London Living Wage is currently £14.80 per hour.
Businesses pay this wage rate voluntarily and 94% of those surveyed, said they’d benefitted from the accreditation.
There are more than 120 businesses paying the London Living Wage in Royal Greenwich. We’ve been a Living Wage Employer since 2017.
Benefits of paying the Living Wage
By paying the Living Wage you:
- ensure your staff earn enough to live on
- show your commitment to fair pay
- get accreditation as a Living Wage Employer
- can apply to us for the cost of your first 3 years accreditation
Employers who pay the Living Wage:
- see a reduction in people not coming into work and sick leave
- receive better quality job applications
- find it easier to recruit and retain staff
- see a huge boost to staff morale and productivity
- see improved brand awareness
- secure more contracts and funding
Watch a video from local employers on the benefits of paying the Living Wage.
How to get accreditation
The accreditation process involves the employer signing a licence agreement with the Living Wage Foundation.
Find out more about accreditation by reading the Living Wage Foundation FAQs.
Living Wage grants
To support employers in Royal Greenwich to become accredited living wage employers, we’re offering grants to cover the cost of accreditation for a 3-year period.
If you’re an accredited employer with up to 250 employees, you can apply for the grant.
The grant is a one-off award to cover the cost of accreditation.
If an organisation occupies more than one property within Royal Greenwich, only one award will be made (the applicant can specify which property).
Grant conditions
To qualify you must:
- be an employer that occupies a commercial property within Royal Greenwich
- continue to occupy a commercial property within Royal Greenwich for at least 3 years after receiving accreditation - any grant will be reclaimed if your organisation moves out of the borough
- get accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation
- provide your accreditation agreement
- implement the agreement to pay the London Living Wage for a minimum of 3 years - failure to do this may result in recovery of the grant
- confirm that any grant award will not result in your organisation exceeding the State Aid threshold
The Living Wage Foundation monitors organisations. If an organisation breaks the agreement within 3 years, we’ll reclaim any grant award on a pro rata basis.
Grant awards
We award grants to the value of 3 years fees for London Living Wage accreditation.
The level of grant award depends on the size of your organisation. The grants are available to employers in the private, public and charity sectors.
| Size of organisation (including 3rd party) | Grant award (3 years) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 10 | £228 |
| 11 to 50 | £452 |
| 51 to 250 | £906 |
Apply for a grant
State aid and subsidy allowance
European Union (EU) laws restrict the amount of state funding businesses can receive. This includes government grants, loans or tax reductions.
EU state aid rules no longer apply to subsidies or granted in the UK following the end of the transition period. However, the following scheme rules apply to subsidies on the basis of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (European Commission).
If you have any queries about the conditions, or you need help with completing the form, email business@royalgreenwich.gov.uk.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund funds our living wage campaign. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK. It invests in communities and place, supporting local business, people and skills.
Find out more about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund on GOV.UK
Get support with accreditation
For support with accreditation, contact the Living Wage Foundation:
- email accreditation@livingwage.org.uk
- phone 020 7043 9882