ICYMI: Living Wage Week 2025 – the difference it makes
As Living Wage Week 2025 draws to a close, it’s clear that our movement has never been stronger—or more necessary. This year’s theme, “The difference it makes” celebrates the powerful impact that decent pay, secure working hours and pensions have on people and their families, businesses and communities across the UK.
From stories of workers gaining stability and dignity, to employers championing change in their industries, this week has showcased how paying the real Living Wage transforms lives.
In this post, we’ll look back at some of the key highlights, inspiring moments, and milestones that have defined Living Wage Week 2025 - and explore how together, we’re building a future where work works for everyone.
London Stadium and West Ham kicked off Living Wage Week
We were delighted to kick-start the week at the West Ham London Stadium, where we brought together Living Wage employers and champions across the capital to an event ‘Making London Work for All: The Ultimate Goal’ to celebrate our movement and work together to keep up the momentum for decent pay in the capital. We were joined by Howard Dawber, the deputy Mayor of London as well as well-known employers like Uniqlo, Aviva and heard from campaigners on the importance of the real Living Wage in London. A particular highlight was use of the screens at London Stadium X West Ham as Living Wage Employers.
Greater Manchester came together and GMCA becomes a Living Hours Employer
Greater Manchester proudly launched Living Wage Week 2025 at Oldham Library - bringing together businesses, public sector organisations, voluntary, charity, social enterprise and faith groups, universities, unions, and employees from across the city region. At the event, Mayor Andy Burnham presented plaques to newly accredited Living Wage, Living Hours, and Living Pensions Employers. He also accepted a plaque recognising GMCA as an accredited Living Hours Employer.
The town crier made some noise in Norwich!
On Monday Norwich’s town crier marked the start of Living Wage Week by announcing it on the steps of the town hall and encouraging local employers to accredit. Now that’s what we call spreading the word!
Cornwall made the headlines
300 employers in Cornwall are leading the way on the Living Wage, including Mother Ivey’s Bay and Truro Food Bank who were featured on BBC News this week to share why they think the real Living Wage makes all the difference.
Go North East buses proudly put their Living Wage commitment on their buses!
If you live across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, and Tees Valley , be sure to keep an eye out for the rear of these buses.
Scotland are leading the way with around 5x more Living Wage Employers than the rest of the UK
Scotland are doing something very right when it comes to the Living Wage. With 4,000 of the 16,000 UK Living Wage Employers, Scotland are proportionately leading the way on fair pay. Read more here.
Local governments back the Living Wage in Wales and Northern Ireland
Events took place across Wales and Northern Ireland to mark Living Wage Week, from an event with the Welsh government at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre in Cardiff, to an event at NICVA in Belfast where the Minister for the Department of Economy addressed the Living Wage movement in Northern Ireland which continues to grow.
Our team got out to visit lots of wonderful accredited employers
From coffee shops to councils, the Living Wage team got out and about this week to visit some of our incredible Living Wage Employers such as Cambridge City Council and Komodo Coffee.
Best-selling author on workplace culture backs the call for the real Living Wage and Living Hours
Bruce Daisley, a best-selling author on workplace culture proudly shared his support for the work of the Living Wage Foundation this Living Wage Week, dedicating his newsletter (read by 140,000 people) to the importance of a real Living Wage and secure working hours and shifts. Read it here.
Churches in diocese of London share an important message for Living Wage Week
This Living Wage Week, churches and communities across London stood up for fair pay. The real Living Wage protects workers from in-work poverty - and this year, accredited churches have come together to share why it matters in a video.
Living Wage Week went global - Around the world in 10 Living Wage movements
Did you know there are movements all over the world for a living wage? We are working with many of them through our Global Living Wage work, and wanted to share 10 movements changing the world of work that we think you should know about.
Creative cultural celebrations
The topic of fair pay in the creative and cultural sector remains as important as ever which is why we were delighted to see so many Arts and Cultural organisations taking part in week’s celebrations and helping to raise awareness of the importance of the Living Wage. To mark Living Wage Week in Southwark, Blue Elephant Theatre created a free theatrical performance walking audiences through a future shaped by fair pay for all. For the sixth year running The National Centre for Writing commissioned a local poet to share their response to the spirit of the Living Wage movement. You can read this year’s poem ‘Doing the maths’, by poet Ruth Beddow here.
There were so many other highlights we unfortunately couldn't fit into one blog, but do check out our social media channels for more on what we got up to this week!
A big thank you to every Living Wage Employer, worker and advocate who took part in Living Wage Week.
Together, we’re driving up standards of good work, so that everyone can have a decent standard of living, now and in the future.