search.noResults

search.searching

saml.title
dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
Marking 20 years of the Living Wage movement


Lisa Sheppard, Kingdom Cleaning’s Director of Development and Co-chair of the Living Wage Foundation’s Recognised Service Provider Leadership Group, shares her insights into the impact the Living Wage can have on both the workforce and clients.


This month marks the 20th anniversary of the Living Wage movement (with Living Wage Week running 15-21 November), and just look at how far it has come.


From years of campaigning and signing up the first Living Wage supporter in 2004, to now having over 8000 UK businesses accredited with over £1.5bn going back into the pockets of low paid workers. The movement has given hundreds of thousands of key workers a pay rise over the past few decades.


The Living Wage goes above and beyond to meet the cost of living, not just the government minimum. It is the only rate independently calculated annually, based on the real cost of living, and it’s paid on a voluntary basis. It ensures that those working in vital services, like cleaning or security, are paid fairly for their commitment and dedication.


Businesses can get involved in the movement in many ways. You can sign up to become a Living Wage Employer, which means that you commit to paying every single employee at least the Real Living Wage. Or you can become a Recognised Service Provider. These businesses pay all directly employed staff at least the real Living Wage, but also offer a real Living Wage bid alongside every market rate submitted to all prospective and current clients. This means the client always has the choice to implement the real Living Wage at the point of tender.


At Kingdom Cleaning, we believe that people who are willing to work hard should be rewarded sufficiently, so that they feel appreciated at all times. After all, without our frontline staff, we don’t have a business. We need to actively work to protect and promote them, giving them a decent standard of living.


28 | REGULAR


This is why we are strong supporters of the Living Wage movement. In fact, we were a founding member of its Recognised Service Provider Scheme and were one of the first national contract cleaning companies to sign up to it.


We took these steps to lead the industry in tackling in- work poverty and improve the wellbeing of our lower paid employees. The cleaning sector is often perceived as short- termist and underpaid; we wanted to change this perception to help our colleagues feel respected and valued.


Over the years, we’ve seen first-hand what a difference paying the Living Wage makes. From improving relationships between employer and colleague, to ensuring a better standard of living for our people, it has, without a doubt, been one of the most positive initiatives that we have adopted.


The impact on the keyworker is undeniable, but it also benefits the Living Wage provider too. Since joining the Living Wage scheme, we have seen lower absenteeism, increased staff retention, and higher levels of job fulfilment. Of course, this also has a knock-on effect for our clients.


By becoming a Living Wage employer or a recognised service provider, an organisation can reap the benefits of visibly being a responsible business, help the Foundation to spread awareness, and encourage other companies to join the movement.


The new rates will be announced on Monday 15 November and will spark a series of events and celebrations up and down the country. We hope they will inspire others to embrace the Living Wage, and create a fairer society for all to enjoy.


www.kingdom.co.uk/cleaning www.livingwage.org.uk/living-wage-week


twitter.com/TomoCleaning


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98