With five million working people in the UK earning below the real Living Wage in 2017 what does this mean for our economy and businesses alike.

Here at Bespoke we believe there is more we can do as businesses to educate and lead.

Naturally there is a worry especially for small to medium businesses that increased wages, will negatively impact the bottom line. As clients are being squeezed to drive down costs, suppliers are seeing cost cutting as an opportunity to win contracts. But what does this really mean for the service provision?

Here at Bespoke we work with Royal Mencap as we believe in redefining entry level jobs as a gateway to employment for the underemployed. A feature of this is to show how such a strategy, if widely adopted by the cleaning industry can elevate our sector as a flagbearer of the post-Brexit employment landscape. We understand the importance of what it means to have a job but it doesn’t stop there. Having a job is not always enough and knowing that, is part of what makes us a London Living wage employer.

During this time we have seen improved staff morale, a rise in service standards, improved retention of staff and increased productivity. More importantly, it has been an enabler for social mobility.  It makes sense that investing in staff means investing in your service quality.

We have learned first-hand what paying a fair wage can do for our employees and so we asked them if we could share their stories…

Introducing Omar -

Omar is originally from Equador and has lived in the UK for Twenty-Five years. 

Omar has worked in the cleaning industry for over Seven years; he transferred over to our company as a TUPE cleaner and has been working with us for Four years, when he started with Bespoke he was offered the London Living wage salary. He is a family man and works endlessly to provide for them. Omar takes a month of every year to go back to Equador and see them. He works extremely hard for us and he deserves it! Thankyou Omar for being such an outstanding team member. His birthday is on Friday and we would also like to take this opportunity to wish him a wonderful day!


If you would like to learn more about how adopting the London Living Wage can help your business please do get in touch.

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