Cambridge celebrates 25th anniversary of Living Wage
Local employers come together at Anglia Ruskin University to champion fair pay
Participants at the event held at ARU in Cambridge to mark the 25th anniversary of the Living Wage
An event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Living Wage was held at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), bringing together employers, civic leaders, students and community organisations from across Cambridge.
The breakfast event was hosted by ARU at its Cambridge campus on East Road, organised in partnership with Cambridge Citizens, The Living Wage Foundation, and Cambridge City Council.
Guests at the event heard from speakers representing business, higher education, the public sector, and civil society. The benefits of Living Wage accreditation to businesses, the role of employers in supporting fair work, and the importance of collaborative action to create a stronger and more inclusive local economy formed part of a panel discussion.
ARU students taking part in the Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange programme (SHoKE) also gave a presentation on their work with partners to develop ideas to encourage more employers in the city to adopt the Living Wage.
Launched in 2001, the Living Wage campaign called for every worker in the country to earn enough be able to provide their families with the essentials of life. Citizens UK set up the Living Wage Foundation and the Living Wage Employer mark in 2011 to provide companies with information and accreditation.
The Living Wage is currently £14.10 per hour, and £15.45 per hour in London, and while it is a voluntary scheme, employers who pay their employees the Living Wage as a minimum can be accredited by the Living Wage Foundation. ARU has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer since November 2017.
“The Living Wage movement has achieved great things over the past 25 years. What began as a campaign driven by communities has helped transform the way employers think about fair pay, ensuring that hundreds of thousands of workers across the UK receive a wage that better reflects the real cost of living.
“At Anglia Ruskin University, we strongly support the principle that work should provide people with dignity, security and the opportunity to thrive, and are proud to have been an accredited Living Wage Employer since 2017.
“The challenge for the years ahead is to encourage even more organisations to embrace fair pay and good employment practices, helping to build stronger communities, reduce inequality and create an economy that works for everyone.”
Professor Roderick Watkins, Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)Hughes Hall has recently been accredited and was represented at the event. Bursar Laurie Smith welcomed the announcement: “This is something the College has been working towards for a number of years and, with the support of our student body, we agreed this year to make accreditation a priority.
“While accreditation is new, our commitment to paying people fairly is not. Becoming a Living Wage Employer reflects our values as a College and our belief that everyone who contributes to our community should receive a fair wage for their work.”