Citizens UK celebrates the success of the Making London a Living Wage City project
A new report celebrates the success of the Making London a Living Wage City project, led by Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation and funded by Trust for London.
The project, which ran from September 2021 to August 2025, is a success story which brought together civil society, businesses and Government to tackle in-work poverty across London. Together, community leaders led conversations with employers to build relationships, took action by turning up at target businesses, and engaged local government decision-makers.
There was a time when I earned so little that getting through the week felt like a battle. That experience of surviving on low pay is what first spurred me into this work, but what keeps me here is being a part of the incredible change that can be achieved when communities, businesses and local government decision makers come together.
Through the Making London a Living Wage City project, tens of thousands of workers across the city and beyond have been lifted out of in-work poverty. And ultimately it’s about so much more than wages – it’s families affording fresh food, workers being able to pay their bills, and people walking into their jobs with their heads held high. That’s the London we’re building together, and I’m proud to be part of it.
Gina Rodriguez, Citizens UK leader and project Steering Group member
Our impact in numbers
- £413 million back into the pockets of workers from London-headquartered employers
- 2,561 newly accredited Living Wage Employers in London, doubling the total number of London Living Wage Employers in the past 4 years
- £330 million back into the pockets of Londoners
- £628 million total economic value to London’s economy
- 680,397 employees now working for a London Living Wage Employer
- 70,308 people who have seen their wage increase nationally, from London-headquartered employers
Alongside this, the project had a significant impact on wider society, communities and developing leaders:
- 500 community and worker leaders took part in structured development, training and campaigning
- 736 people in total were engaged as leaders or stakeholders at some point in the project
- Work took place with 138 Citizens UK member institutions, including 18 campaign anchors that received deeper support to build their organising capacity
- There were 152 local or borough-level actions and 32 cross-London events, with approximately 10,000 people attending
“Paying our team the London Living Wage isn’t just good for business; it also allows our staff to live with dignity and earn enough to meet their everyday needs.
It has improved our day-to-day operations as well. We’ve seen lower turnover, higher morale, and stronger continuity for our clients. I’d invite other employers in London and across the country, especially if you are in the cleaning or hospitality industry, to do right by their workers and pay the real Living Wage.”
Antoinette Daniel, Founder of London-based ethical cleaning agency Just Helpers
The Making London a Living Wage City project is a powerful story of the change that can be made when communities come together and organise. At its heart, the movement for a real Living Wage is about dignity - all workers deserve a wage that enables them and their families to live a decent life.
As we move into the next phase of the work, Making London Work for all, we’re looking to a future where every worker, in London and beyond, is paid the real Living Wage.
Pete Brierley, Citizens UK Director, London
Everyone needs a decent standard of living to thrive.
Be part of a movement that’s bringing people, businesses and communities together across the UK, to win the real Living Wage and end the injustice of in-work poverty.