Chancellor backs drive towards real living wage

A NATIONAL ceremony celebrating companies committed to the real living wage has been held in Newcastle with backing from Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

The Living Wage Foundation’s Living Wage Champion Awards were held at the Great North Museum: Hancock. Employers and individuals from around the UK attended the awards, with Newcastle Building Society among the winners after taking the Living Pension Champion Award.

Other winners on the night included the NHS, Southwark Council and CIS Security.

In a message played at the ceremony, Ms Reeves said: “Our number one mission is to put more money into the pockets of working people and our increase to the National Living Wage is giving a £1,400 a year boost to some of the lowest paid workers.