Cornwall has officially become a ‘living wage’ location after a campaign by a regional action group. The county secured the accreditation from the Real Living Wage Foundation after hundreds of companies committed to paying staff in line with the cost of living.
Research in 2023 estimated that 60,000 workers in Cornwall were paid less than the Real Living Wage, including 20% of male part-time workers and 40% of female part-time workers.
Cornwall is the first UK county to be named a ‘Living Wage Place’. It joins 17 other UK locations – primarily cities and metropolitan boroughs – including Newcastle, Cardiff, Bristol and London to be recognised.
A Living Wage Place is one where employers of all sizes and sectors are encouraged to pay their staff and regular contractors an income over and above the national minimum wage.
Simon Fann, manager of Truro Foodbank, who helped lead the campaign, said: “The mainstay is that workers need to receive fair and regular pay, but there are tangible benefits for businesses in Cornwall which can be financial as well as reputational.
“This is a voluntary commitment – we urge businesses not to just default to paying the minimum or imposing zero hours contracts. The campaign will be promoted in the coming weeks and months. Be part of this momentum in Cornwall.”
The Cornwall action group is supported by businesses such as Wildanet, Mother Ivey’s Holiday Park, Cornish Gems, Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum and Coastline Housing.
Over the past 18 months, the number of accredited businesses in Cornwall has grown from 113 to over 300, meaning more than 15,000 workers now receive the Real Living Wage.
Jane Kirkham, MP for Truro and Falmouth, said the county had “suffered from low wages” for many years.
She said: “When I first stood for election back in 2017, I spoke at a TUC event in Truro identifying the issue. That is why I have been so pleased to support the focus on changing that, which the Cornwall as a Living Wage Place campaign has worked so hard to bring about.”
She added: “We have businesses and dedicated people and organisations in Cornwall who have been real advocates for a Living Wage and have pushed hard to get to this place, which has taken work and determination, and I salute their commitment and am sure it will make a real difference in the Duchy.”
Speaking at a launch event at Bedruthan Hotel, in Mawgan Porth, Helen Wylde-Archibald, chief executive of internet firm Wildanet, said paying the ‘living wage’ created “a more resilient economy”.
“Paying a Real Living Wage is not just the right thing to do for our colleagues but also for the communities we serve,” she said. “We’re proud to support this initiative and encourage other employers in Cornwall to join us in making fair pay the norm.”
The initiative in Cornwall is looking to emulate the success of cities such as Manchester, which now has 819 accredited ‘real living wage’ firms covering 165,000 employees.