The ‘real Living Wage’ is a voluntary rate of pay for employers. It is based on the best available data on living standards in the UK.
It is calculated to cover workers’ and their families’ living costs – what they need for an acceptable, basic standard of living. The Resolution Foundation calculates it each year for the Living Wage Foundation.
The real Living Wage applies to everyone over the age of 18 who works for an accredited employer. The current rate is £14.10 an hour across the UK and £15.45 an hour in London.
The real Living Wage is different to the government’s statutory National Living Wage. That applies to people over the age of 21 and is worth £12.71 an hour. A full-time worker earning the real Living Wage would earn at least £2,700 a year more than the National Living Wage.
Living Wage Week
Living Wage Week 2026 takes place from 9 to 15 November.
It’s an annual celebration of the Real Living Wage movement. Visit the website to learn more about Living Wage Week and events you might attend.
The Living Wage in Cambridge
We pay the real Living Wage to all our staff and agency workers and commit to paying it to contracted staff.
We received official accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation in 2014.
We have been raising awareness of the real Living Wage with local businesses and organisations since then. We have supported many with advice about becoming accredited.
Contact us if you are based in Cambridge and interested in becoming a real Living Wage employer. We can help answer your questions about accreditation.
There are currently more than 90 accredited employers in Cambridge. This includes independent businesses and organisations with their head offices here. Many more national employers have local branches.
List of accredited employers
- 5th Studio Ltd
- A-Plant
- Abbey People CIO
- Allia Ltd
- Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Arcus Global Ltd
- Argyle Street Housing Cooperative
- Ark Colour Design
- ARM Ltd
- Arts and Minds
- Arts Marketing Association
- Ashton Electrical Energy Ltd
- AstraZeneca
- BB+C Architects Limited
- Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue
- Blue Smile
- Branching Out
- Cambridge Acorn Project
- The Cambridge Building Society
- Cambridge and District Citizens Advice Bureau
- Cambridge City Council
- Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service
- Cambridge Cyrenians
- Cambridge Economic Associates Limited
- Cambridge Education Group
- Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum
- Cambridge Organic Food Company
- Cambridge Re-Use
- Cambridge Sustainable Food
- Cambridge University Students’ Union
- Cambridge Women’s Aid
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
- Cambridgeshire Deaf Association
- Cambridgeshire Police Shrievalty Trust trading as The Bobby Scheme
- Camcycle
- Christine Marie Ltd
- CMP Ltd
- CMR Surgical Ltd
- Coulson Building Group
- Crome Lea Business Park
- Cultivate Gardens
- Daily Bread Cooperative Limited (Cambridge)
- Downing Place United Reformed Church
- Earth and Mind CIC
- Endomag
- The Expert on Myself
- Form the Future
- The Foundation of Edward Storey
- Girton College
- Great St Marys The University Church Cambridge
- Head to Toe Charity
- Iansyst Ltd
- Imagen Ltd
- International Workplace Ltd
- Jimmy's
- Lifecraft
- Meadows Cambridge
- The Memorial Unitarian Church, Cambridge
- Minuteman Press
- Mission (2026) Ltd
- Mo-Sys Engineering Limited
- Museum of Cambridge
- Nanna Mexico
- Nara Nurseries Limited
- Open Book Publishers
- Origami Energy Limited
- Outspoken Training LLP
- Patacake Nursery
- Pelle Pub Company LLP
- The Portland Arms LLP
- Purcell
- Queens' College
- RAND Europe
- RH Partnership Architects
- Rutherford’s Punting
- Safe Soulmates
- Seesaw Preschool CIO
- Selwyn College
- St Laurence Catholic Primary School
- Ubisense
- The University of Cambridge
- Westminster College
- Wintercomfort for the homeless
- Your Space Apartments
- Zedify
Benefits of the real Living Wage
We believe that the real Living Wage is good for business. It can lead to:
- reduction in staff turnover and sickness rates
- less absenteeism
- improved staff morale and productivity
- better retention of staff
- recruitment of committed staff
- reputation as an ethical employer
It is also good for workers. It helps them:
- provide adequately for themselves and their family
- rely less on benefits
- not have to work excessive hours
- have more time for their family
And it is good for Cambridge, leading to:
- more money being spent locally
- a high-quality, better-paid workforce
Guidance for employees
Contact Cambridge and District Citizens Advice if you:
- have questions on how your change in income will impact on your benefits
- want support in budgeting
- have problems with your pay
