Ipswich Borough Council celebrates seven years as an accredited Living Wage employer

Published17th November 2021

Ipswich Borough Council has welcomed the announcement by the Living Wage Foundation that the Real Living Wage will increase to £9.90 an hour and confirmed that all directly employed staff are already earning more than the new rate.

The announcement came to mark the start of Living Wage Week and celebrate 20 years of the Living Wage movement.

Ipswich Borough Council was the first local authority in Suffolk to be accredited as a Living Wage employer in 2014.

Tomorrow the Council is hosting a breakfast morning for Ipswich businesses. Those attending will get the opportunity to find out what the Living Wage is, why it matters and what it could mean for their businesses. You can sign up to attend at ipswichlivingwageweek.eventbrite.co.uk

Councillor David Ellesmere, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: "We have been a proud Living Wage employer since 2014 and while we welcome the announcement of the new Living Wage rates, we can confirm that our staff already earn more. We also insist our contractors pay the Living Wage rate when delivering services to us. This shows our commitment to ensuring people get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work - something we know not only helps employees and their families, but the town and the local economy.

“Being an accredited Living Wage employer can help with recruitment and retention as well as productivity, that’s why we want to encourage more local businesses to follow our lead and seek accreditation. If you’re interested in finding out more, join us at our breakfast event to hear from the Living Wage Foundation and other local businesses who are already reaping the rewards.”