Triple Living Wage accolade for Salford

Salford’s ambition to become the first Living Wage City in England has been recognised with three awards.

At the Living Wage Champion Awards, Salford CVS was recognised for using its funding and grant-making process to promote the real Living Wage in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

This has included supporting a number of local charities to become accredited with the Living Wage Foundation in the last 12 months.

The Living Wage Foundation awarded the Salford Living Wage City Action Group, launched in 2019, the Places Champion Award for its success in increasing the number of accredited Living Wage employers in the city from 38 to 49 despite the pandemic.

That has boosted the number of jobs in the city which pay the accredited Living Wage from 9,433 to 12,146.

And Worsley-based Anchor Removals, whose managing director Chris Smallwood is part of the Living Wage City Action Group also won the Against All Odds industry award for being the only real Living Wage, no zero-hours removals company in the UK.

Many Salford companies also pay the equivalent of or above the real Living Wage, which is calculated to meet the actual cost of living but have not yet accredited with the Foundation.

Salford’s aim is to encourage more employers to become accredited, double the number of workers receiving the real Living Wage from 10,000 to 20,000 to lift people out of poverty pay and encourage employers in traditionally low paid sectors such as hospitality and social care to boost pay for their employees.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: ‘Winning three awards is welcome but the real credit goes to every Salford based organisation which recognises the value of paying the real Living Wage.

‘It is especially heartening to see an increase given the difficulties businesses have faced over the last year but every organisation which pays the real Living Wage reports increased productivity and better staff retention because their employees feel valued, easier recruitment and a positive reaction from customers.

‘It also puts money back into the local economy and allows people to live in dignity without worrying about making ends meet.’

Alison Page, chief executive, Salford CVS, said: ‘We’re proud to actively promote payment of the real Living Wage as an accredited living wage employer and a recognised living wage funder.

‘We believe that all those working in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector are entitled to a fair rate of pay for the tremendous work they do for the benefit others.’

Mr Smallwood said: ‘We are delighted to be recognised and win this national Against All Odds Living Wage award.

‘It will help us to promote the best possible employment practices within an industry that is renowned for poor terms of employment, especially considering its physically demanding nature.

‘This is very much a team effort, and everybody in the company has bought into our challenging project to show us leading by example of how being good for your employees is also good for your business.’

Photo Credit – Colin Watts