Phoenix Group and One+All were among the winners announced at the Living Wage Champion Awards yesterday (6 July).
The event, held at the National Football Museum in Manchester, recognised employers across the country that provide high employment standards and had gone above and beyond in supporting staff during the cost-of-living crisis.
Organised by the Living Wage Foundation, winning organisations were congratulated by its director, Katherine Chapman, as well as Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.
Chapman said: “Now more than ever, people need a wage that covers the cost of living, so it has been inspiring to hear about the work being done by this incredible collection of organisations and individuals to promote the real living wage across the country.
“Along with nearly 13,000 other living wage employers in our network, they have ensured that the movement has remained strong and continued to grow at record pace in these difficult times, and it’s fantastic to be able to publicly thank a handful of those employers who are really leading the way on the Living Wage.”
Phoenix Group, Herbert Smith Freehills, One+All and The West Brom received the Beyond the Living Wage Award, while Gavhas and Phoenix Events (East) were given the Employee’s Choice Award.
Abi Johnson, head of reward, compensation and benefits at Phoenix Group said: “We’re thrilled to have won a Beyond the Living Wage Award for our support in launching the Living Pension accreditation at our offices earlier this year in Edinburgh. It’s critical that people are saving enough towards their retirement, and we know that employers have an important role to play in ensuring that the right foundations are laid for their employees’ retirement through being paid the real living wage and a living pension as a minimum.
“Steps like this can make a real difference over the long term and be particularly important when people are facing cost-of-living challenges. We see it working well alongside other initiatives that we have introduced such as assistance with the cost of food at work, and free personalised financial coaching and planning.
“As one of the first employers in the UK to sign up to the living pension accreditation, we urge other businesses, who can, to also sign up to this really good initiative as a minimum and help their employees have enough income to meet their everyday needs in later life.”
Other winners included Burns Pet Nutrition and Unity Trust Bank, who won Industry Trailblazer awards, and Public Sector Champion, the London Borough of Newham.
