Real Living Wage
The real Living Wage is voluntarily paid by employers, set at a rate to ensure employees earn enough to meet the cost of living. It is different to the Government’s lower National Living Wage. Norwich City Council is proud to have help Living Wage accreditation from the national Living Wage Foundation since 2012.
This means we are committed to working with partner organisations and businesses to make low pay in Norwich a thing of the past.
The benefits for businesses of paying a Real Living Wage include: a reduction in staff turnover and sickness, an improvement in morale and productivity and beyond that, creating a ‘virtuous circle’ with higher pay spent locally boosting the local economy.
Becoming a Living Wage City: Tackling in-work poverty in Norwich
Too many people who live and work in Norwich are unable to earn a wage which simply meets the cost of living. That is why business and community leaders from across the city are committed to making Norwich a Living Wage City to tackle the problem of in-work poverty.
In October 2025, the Living Wage Foundation(External link) unveiled their new Living Wage rates based on the cost of living with the rates of pay reflecting the continued price rises faced by UK households. Accredited employers will be required to implement these new rates of £13.45 across the UK, and £14.80 in London by 1 May 2026. The Government’s National Living Wage is £12.21 for anyone aged 21 and over.
What are the benefits of becoming a Living Wage City?
Good for business: Employers who pay the Living Wage benefit from improved staff recruitment and retention, strengthened reputation, and improved relations between staff and management.
Good for communities: The Living Wage helps boost the local economy by promoting the financial health of those who live and work within it. In other words, it helps to reduce poverty and inequality.
Good for Norwich: Making Norwich a Living Wage City will help the city to attract and retain talent whilst making Norwich a more attractive place to live and work.
A local, community led campaign
In 2022 The Norwich Living Wage Action Group was recognised by the Living Wage Foundation for its plan to make Norwich a Living Wage City. Our Action Group, leading the campaign to make Norwich a Living Wage city, is made up of leaders from a broad range of local employers that want to do more to make Norwich a city which delivers fair pay for all. This includes Norwich City Council, Aviva, Broadland Housing Association, representatives from local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the Voluntary sector.
By becoming a designated Living Wage City our campaign will continue to raise awareness of the blight of insecure, low paid employment, persuade more employers to become accredited and ultimately ensure employees in Norwich are paid a fair wage.
Want to get involved? There are a two ways you can help make Norwich a Living Wage City:
Ask your employer to become a Living Wage employer If you work in the private sector, you can talk to your manager or HR department about becoming a Living Wage employer. If you work for a public sector organisation, you can contact your elected representative and ask them to support the campaign.
Spread the word Talk to your friends, family, and colleagues about the Living Wage and the campaign to make Norwich a Living Wage City. Share the campaign on social media and encourage others to get involved.
