Local employers and Anglia Ruskin University unite to champion fair pay and economic inclusivity.
By Alice Hartwell
••2 min read
AI
Generic image of a diverse group of people attending an event in a university lecture hall.
Cambridge recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Living Wage with an event at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), gathering employers, civic leaders, students, and community organisations.
The breakfast event, hosted at ARU's Cambridge campus on East Road, was organised in partnership with Cambridge Citizens, The Living Wage Foundation, and Cambridge City Council. Attendees heard from speakers representing business, higher education, the public sector, and civil society.
A panel discussion focused on the benefits of Living Wage accreditation for businesses, the role of employers in promoting fair work, and the importance of collaborative action for a stronger, more inclusive local economy. Students from ARU's SHoKE programme presented their work on encouraging more employers in the city to adopt the Living Wage.
The Living Wage campaign, launched in 2001, advocates for workers to earn enough to cover life's essentials. The Living Wage Foundation was established in 2011 to provide accreditation for companies paying the Living Wage, which is currently £14.10 per hour nationally and £15.45 in London. ARU has been an accredited Living Wage Employer since November 2017.
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"The Living Wage movement has achieved great things over the past 25 years. What began as a campaign driven by communities has helped transform the way employers think about fair pay, ensuring that hundreds of thousands of workers across the UK receive a wage that better reflects the real cost of living.
At Anglia Ruskin University, we strongly support the principle that work should provide people with dignity, security and the opportunity to thrive, and are proud to have been an accredited Living Wage Employer since 2017.
The challenge for the years ahead is to encourage even more organisations to embrace fair pay and good employment practices, helping to build stronger communities, reduce inequality and create an economy that works for everyone."
Hughes Hall, also recently accredited, was represented by Bursar Laurie Smith. Smith welcomed the announcement, stating, “This is something the College has been working towards for a number of years and, with the support of our student body, we agreed this year to make accreditation a priority. While accreditation is new, our commitment to paying people fairly is not. Becoming a Living Wage Employer reflects our values as a College and our belief that everyone who contributes to our community should receive a fair wage for their work.”
