London anchors and the Living Wage Foundation unite to give over 11k Londoners a pay rise
Today (22 October 2025), the new London Living Wage rose from £13.85 to £14.80 seeing tens of thousands of Londoners, who work for a London Living Wage paying employer and a London anchor institution, benefit from a pay rise.
As a London Living Wage accredited employer and a member of LAIN (London Anchor Institutions’ Network), more than 20 London anchor organisations have committed to paying wages that help Londoners to thrive.
Since 2021, supported by the Mayor of London, LAIN has been championing the London Living Wage and supporting anchor institutions to achieve accreditation, where not already in place.
More than 11,200 staff have benefitted from pay uplifts since 2021 because of new London anchor institutions committing to pay the London Living Wage. Today, with the new wage announcements, over 9,900 Londoners can expect more in their pay packet because they work for a London Living Wage accredited anchor institution.
Katherine Chapman, Director of Living Wage Foundation praised LAIN for being such a strong advocate for the movement. She said: “London’s anchor institutions that are London Living Wage accredited employers, are proof that when organisations connect with a shared purpose – to pay wages that help people to thrive not just survive - the scale at which they can change lives with that single commitment is immense.
“Together, the Living Wage movement as a whole makes a massive difference to the workers hit hardest by rising living costs. There are now over 16,000 accredited Living Wage Employers across the UK and today's increase will mean a vital cost of living pay rise for half a million workers and their families.”
London anchor institutions that are also London Living Wage accredited employers include: Battersea Power Station Development Corporation, BusinessLDN, Capital City College, Film London, Greater London Authority, Ingeus, London City Airport, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, London Fire Brigade, Metropolitan Police Service, Newham College, Thames Water, Transport for London, London Borough of Lambeth, Waltham Forest College, Middlesex University, University of London, University College London, University East London, NHS England and the majority of London’s NHS Trusts, as well as some primary care and social care providers too.
The real Living Wage remains the only UK wage rate calculated on the real cost of living. It is an hourly rate that is paid voluntarily by employers that have chosen to pay their staff fair wages for a decent day’s work. It allows employees and their families to live and thrive, not simply survive.
The real Living Wage is higher than the government’s minimum wage because it is independently calculated based on what people need to get by. The London Living Wage rate is higher still – this reflects the unique costs of living and working in the capital.
The real Living Wage is championed and accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, the movement at the heart of fairer, better work.
The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has committed to making London a Living Wage City, putting more money into the pockets of hard-working Londoners by increasing the number of Living Wage accredited employers across the capital.
He is turning his vision into reality supported by LAIN (London Anchors Institutions’ Network) - a network he convened which brings together some of the capital’s biggest organisations to tackle inequalities.
Lizzie Smith, Director of Workforce, Training and Education at NHS England (London region) and Chair of LAIN said: “As large employers and anchor institutions we have a responsibility to look after our people and communities. We know that good employment brings so many benefits from good health to improved productivity. Paying the London Living Wage creates equity for staff and helps make London a great city to live and work in.”
Lizzie has been instrumental in championing the London Living Wage across the health and social care sectors, resulting in accreditations of 25 NHS Trusts out of 32 (78%) in London, up from fewer than 10 in 2022.