Five million working people in the UK are earning below the real Living Wage in 2017. What does this mean for our economy and businesses alike?

It shows us that there is more we can do as businesses to educate and lead.

Naturally, there is a worry, especially for small to medium sized businesses that are increasing wages, negatively impacting the bottom line of the business in general. 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 this means that by working with partners like Royal Mencap we are 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 flag-bearer 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 Ecuador 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 (The TUPE Regulations preserve employees' terms and conditions when a business or undertaking, or part of one, is transferred to a new employer. Any provision of any agreement (whether a contract of employment or not) is void so far as it would exclude or limit the rights granted under the Regulations.) 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 Ecuador and see them. He works extremely hard for us and he deserves it! Thank you 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!