The Living Wage Foundation is delighted to announce the winners of the Living Wage Champion Awards 2023. At last night’s awards, held at the National Football Museum in Manchester, employers and individuals up and down the country were celebrated for their leadership in promoting the real Living Wage in their industries, supply chain and areas leading to outstanding contributions to communities and industries across the UK.
The awards were held in Greater Manchester for the first time ever in recognition of the growth and strength of the movement in the region. Greater Manchester boasts 663 Living Wage Employers - meaning nearly 25,000 workers receiving a pay rise in line with the cost of living every year - and 18 Living Hours Employers, more than anywhere else in the UK. In 2021, it became the first city-region in the UK to be recognised for its plan to bring employers together from the public and private sectors and civil society to create a Living Wage city-region where the real Living Wage is the norm. The awards were hosted by BBC North West presenter Annabel Tiffin and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham was in attendance.
The awards were sponsored by Aviva, Everton FC, Autotrader and Britannia Anchor Removals.
Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “Congratulations to all those who won a Living Wage Champion Award. 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 this evening."
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “It was our privilege to host the Living Wage Champions Awards in Manchester and a massive congratulations goes to all the award winners. Their leadership and advocacy for the Living Wage is inspiring and deserves to be recognised.
“In Greater Manchester we’re building a movement for better employment practices, led by our Good Employment Charter and with fair pay at its heart. The movement is growing, backed by employers who understand the long-term business benefits of adopting the real Living Wage. There is still plenty of work to be done, with a cost-of-living crisis being sharply felt by those on the lowest incomes, but we are proud of the progress made so far.”
Here is the full list of 2023 Winners:
Advocate of the Year Award – Chris Smallwood, Anchor Removals
Advocate of the Year Award – Mat Sheehan, Enabled Living Healthcare
Beyond the Living Wage Award – Phoenix Group
Beyond the Living Wage Award – Herbert Smith Freehills
Beyond the Living Wage Award – One+All
Beyond the Living Wage Award – The West Brom
Campaign of the Year Award – West London Health and Social Care Campaign
Campaign of the Year Award – Greater Manchester Campaign calling on Anchor Hanover to Accredit
Employee’s Choice Award – Gavhas Ltd
Employee’s Choice Award – Phoenix Events (East) Ltd
Health and Social Care Champion – South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust & NHS London
Lifetime Achievement Award – Alan Waters, Leader of Norwich City Council
Living Hours Champion – Zixtel Ltd
Industry Trailblazer – Burns Pet Nutrition
Industry Trailblazer – Unity Trust Bank
Living Wage Places Champion – Royal Docks
Public Sector Champion – The London Borough of Newham
Recognised Service Provider Champion – Compass Group
Retail and Hospitality Champion – Rosslyn Coffee
Retail and Hospitality Champion – Fill Refill Co
Third Sector Champion – Salford CVS
Living Wage Funders Champion – Postcode Trusts