The Living Wage Foundation and IKEA UK have been jointly shortlisted for the Corporate National Partnership of the Year with a Retailer award.
The Living Wage Foundation began their partnership with IKEA UK in 2014 with the aim of ensuring all IKEA co-workers earn a real Living Wage based on the cost of living. This aim was met in April 2016 when IKEA became an accredited Living Wage employer.
The partnership continues today with the broader aim of reducing in-work poverty in the UK retail sector and beyond, by promoting the Living Wage and encouraging other organisations to eradicate low pay by sharing best practice.
IKEA has extended their involvement with the Living Wage Foundation to include financial and strategic support by joining the Living Wage Principal Partners, championing the Living Wage in events and press, and being a key member of the Living Wage Commission.
Living Wage Foundation Director, Katherine Chapman said:
"We are delighted to be shortlisted and see our partnership with IKEA as a real asset in the quest to reduce in-work poverty in the retail sector. The real Living Wage is based on what people need to live and IKEA's leadership as an accredited Living Wage employer and Principal Partner of the Living Wage Foundation represents a step change in proving that the real Living Wage is not only possible in the retail sector but makes good business sense too."
Pernille Hagild, Country HR Manager at IKEA UK, said:
"As a values-based organisation, we care about people first. We really believe in the work the Living Wage Foundation is doing on such an important societal issue that is imperative to our business and close to our values. That's why introducing the real Living Wage was the right thing to do, because we believe in paying a meaningful wage to all co-workers which truly supports the cost of living."
The Charity Times Awards continue to be the pre-eminent celebration of best practice in the UK charity and not-for-profit sector. Now in their 18th year, the awards are run by Charity Times Magazine - the leading title for UK non-profit professionals. This year's winners will be announced at the Charity Times Awards Gala Dinner & Ceremony on 4 October 2017 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London. The event was attended by over six hundred guests in 2016 and this year is set to be bigger and better than ever:
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