Preston Real Living Wage

A real wage for Preston

Preston City Council is proud to be a nationally accredited Living Wage Employer and we're working hard to make Preston a Living Wage city.

This involves working with businesses and organisations in the city to understand the benefits of paying their staff the Real Living Wage and helping them through this journey.

What is the Preston Real Living Wage?

The Real Living Wage is an hourly rate of pay set independently and updated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission.

It is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK, and employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis.

The Preston Real Wage initiative has been designed to recognise businesses and organisations in the city who are committed to paying their staff a fair and reasonable wage.

The initiative has 3 tiers:

Preston Real Wage Pledged Employer

We recognise the value of paying a fair wage to our employees and the local economy. We have an ambition to paying a fair and reasonable wage to our employees.

Preston Real Wage Employer

We believe that paying our staff a fair and reasonable wage is a key component of a strong local economy. We are committed to paying our employees the real Living Wage.

Accredited Preston Real Living Wage Employer

We believe that paying our staff a fair and reasonable wage is a key component of a strong local economy. We are nationally accredited by the Living Wage Foundation.

Why should I sign up

Each tier has a unique logo to use for footers, websites or anywhere else felt appropriate.

All businesses involved would be included on our Preston Real Living Wage employers page and have the opportunity to be referenced or involved in press opportunities.

To register your business or organisation for the Preston Real Wage scheme please complete the Real Living Wage employers form.

Sign up to become a Real Living Wage employer

For more additional information please contact Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council at cllr.m.brown@preston.gov.uk; or you can email livingwage@preston.gov.uk. 

Who receives a real living wage?

As a City Council, we pay a Living Wage to all our employed staff and all staff contracted as agency staff.

The idea of the Living Wage is to encourage employers across Preston to raise their own rates of pay to at least £9.90 per hour.

The Preston Living Wage employers page provides a list of current living wage employers in Preston.

Will the council award work to contractors who pay the Preston City Council Living Wage?

Part of the Preston Living Wage scheme involves working with organisations who share our values and pay their staff a fair wage. However, we are committed to working within legislative framework to ensure contracts are allocated fairly.

We will actively look to implement the Living Wage Policy in our procurement practices on a case-by-case basis.

What are the benefits of paying a Living Wage? Why should I pay my staff a Living Wage?

In addition to the economic and social benefits for Preston's population, the payment of a Living Wage can have a positive impact on the delivery and services and value for money.

Many companies who have introduced a Living Wage policy have seen improvements including:

• Better quality services
• Better productivity/motivation
• Higher quality staff
• Better attendance
• Easier recruitment and retention

What do you need to become a Preston Living Wage Employer?

To become a living wage employer your business/company must:

1. Be located and operate in Preston

2. Pay all staff (excluding interns but including agency/temporary staff (third party contracted staff as appropriate) a minimum of £9.90 per hour.

It makes a difference

Data release by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in November 2020 showed that Preston continues to have the lowest share of employees earning below the Real Living Wage throughout Lancashire.

In Lancashire an average of 25.1% of employees are paid below the Real Living Wage of £9.90 per hour. However, in Preston this figures is 19.2% of people.

Preston is also performing better for paying women the Real Living Wage. In Lancashire 30.9% of women in work were paid below the Real Living Wage, meanwhile in Preston this figure is considerably lower at 18.3%.

New Living Wage Business Directory

Due to popular demand from Living Wage supporters, the Living Wage foundation has created a business to business directory exclusively for Living Wage Employers and Recognised Service Providers.

Whether you're looking for event space, catering, cleaning, utilities, stationery, advice or training; the brand new directory is for you. 

To view the directory visit Living Wage Foundation - Accredited Living Wage Employers.

Living Wage video

View our Living Wage video below or access it through our YouTube channel.