Ealing is the first borough in west London to be officially recognised as a Living Wage Place, and one of only 17 across the UK.

The London Living Wage is an hourly rate of pay, currently set at £13.15, calculated to give workers in London enough to afford the essentials and help them to save money.

So far, almost 70 employers in the borough have been accredited. Businesses of all sizes can accredit, including sole traders, charities, and not-for-profit organisations.

The Living Wage Foundation surveyed accredited employers across the country and found that paying the London Living Wage is good for business. 94% reported positive outcomes, like attracting more customers and improved staff recruitment and retention.

The survey showed that people want to work for an accredited organisation, with 93% of university students wanting to work for an accredited employer.

People also wanted to buy from and support accredited employers, with 90% of consumers more likely to buy a product or service from an employer that paid the London Living Wage.

Park Royal-based Wellworking is an award-winning UK supplier of office and home office furniture that specialises in workplace wellbeing. The company signed up to pay the London Living Wage in 2016.

Luke Munro, the managing director, said: "At Wellworking, we are really proud to have been named as one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024, and one of the factors that got us there is our commitment to fair pay. 

"Companies that properly support their staff will retain their talent, attract the best people, and increase productivity."

Employers who sign up to become accredited by 31 March 2025 will be able to access these benefits from Ealing Council:

• grants to cover accreditation costs
• free recruitment services
• free business planning support
• free training and development programmes for your employees
• a dedicated 'Business Buddy' – a council officer to support you with access to council services and advice
• free promotional opportunities to showcase your business

Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council's cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: "I am pleased that the borough is now officially recognised as a Living Wage Place. Paying the London Living Wage helps businesses to thrive, and ensures workers earn enough to properly support their families.

"Almost 70 local employers have already accredited, and we are providing them with a range of support through our incentive scheme. We now want more businesses and organisations to start reaping the rewards of paying the London Living Wage – it's good for business, and good for Ealing."

To find out more, email [email protected].

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