The city of Preston in Lancashire has received real living wage city accreditation from Living Wage Places as part of its commitment to support employees in the area.
A celebration to showcase it becoming a real living wage city was held at Preston City Council on Tuesday 5 November, hosted by Councillor Valerie Wise, cabinet member for community wealth building.
The event enabled other real living wage employers to share their experiences through a question-and-answer panel, featuring Michael Manley, partnership manager at GLL, Kath O’Flaherty head of workforce at Preston City Council, and Nick Burnham, principal at Cardinal Newman College.
The real living wage is a rate based on the cost of living and currently stands at £12 per hour for those located across the UK outside of London. It will increase next year to £12.60.
The rate is voluntarily paid by UK organisations which believe staff deserve a wage that meets everyday needs. Preston City Council became a real living wage accredited employer in 2012.
Wise said: “It’s a wonderful event and a great platform to promote not only the fact that Preston City Council is an accredited living wage employer, but also Preston’s living wage city status. As proven by conversations with both employers and employees, staff morale and retention improve significantly in businesses paying the real living wage.”
O’Flaherty added: “The living wage agenda is intended to promote the economic and social wellbeing of people living and working in Preston. The council has a long history of action on low pay and has been paying the real living wage as the minimum rate for all its workers since 2009. Although it impacts only a small number of workers in roles at the lowest end of the council’s pay spine, it does help to attract workers and reduce turnover in those roles. In particular, we’ve had an excellent response in recruiting younger workers into apprenticeship roles.”
