Community news
The Royal Docks awarded 'Living Wage Places Champion'
The Royal Docks has been honoured with the esteemed 'Living Wage Places Champion' award in recognition of its commitment to promoting and implementing the Living Wage within the area. This award was made at last night's (July 6) Living Wage Champion Awards, where the area was acknowledged for its outstanding efforts in expanding the number of Living Wage Employers and facilitating pay rises in the local community.
The Living Wage campaign originated over two decades ago in East London, in response to the challenges faced by low-wage workers and their families.
Last year, the Royal Docks was one of the first areas in the country to become an accredited Living Wage Place – helping to convince employers large and small to become Living Wage accredited. Both the ExCeL Centre and London Borough of Newham were accredited around the same time, joining London City Airport, Tate & Lyle Sugars and UEL as major economic anchors all committed to paying a fair wage for all their employees and in their supply chains.
In addition to the Royal Docks, Newham Council was recognised in the Public Sector Leadership category and Newham-based Enabled Living, via their Chief Executive Mat Shehan, were honoured for their role in promoting and embedding London Living Wage across their organisation and sector.
It goes to the heart of what we're trying to achieve - a new area for the city that is built on economic justice, equality of opportunity, and economic vitality.
Dan Bridge, Royal Docks Programme Director
Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, commended the Royal Docks effort and the Living Wage Employers, stating, "Given the challenges of the past three years, the record increase in Living Wage Employers is truly remarkable. The Living Wage movement has never been stronger, and in the current cost-of-living crisis, it has never mattered more. Tonight, we are celebrating the outstanding leadership these employers have shown in providing stability and security in their industries, communities, and wider society. They are leading the way in building a better and more equal world, and I warmly congratulate the Royal Docks on their well-deserved award."
Dan Bridge, Royal Docks Programme Director, said, "We are delighted to be recognised by the Foundation in our efforts to embed the London Living Wage throughout the Royal Docks. It goes to the heart of what we're trying to achieve - a new destination for the city that is built on economic justice, equality of opportunity, and economic vitality. Our programme is driven and owned by the organisations and individuals involved."
Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz, shared her ambitious vision, stating, "My ambition is to make Newham a London Living Wage borough - and ensuring that the Royal Docks, London's only Living Wage Enterprise Zone, is central to our plans. There is a huge opportunity here, with £314m being invested to create 41,500 jobs in the Enterprise Zone and 30,000 homes in the wider area over the next 20 years. We have a responsibility to play a leading role in defining and delivering the future of the city, and building the Living Wage into the future growth of the Royal Docks will be central to this."
The annual Living Wage Champion Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to the Living Wage movement. This year, the awards were held in Manchester for the first time and was sponsored by gold sponsors Aviva and Everton F.C., and silver sponsors Autotrader and Anchor Removals. The Living Wage Places Champion award was sponsored by Greater Manchester Poverty Action.
The UK Living Wage is currently £10.90 per hour. There is a separate London Living Wage rate of £11.95 per hour to reflect the higher cost of living in the capital.
