London Living Wage: More than 140,000 workers receive 5% pay rise

The Bird & Blend Tea Co, The Oval Cricket Ground, Shakespeare’s Globe and West Ham FC are just some of the employers in the capital that are signed up to the London Living Wage.

Mike Turner, co-founder of Bird & Blend Tea Co, which has three shops across London, said: “Introducing the living wage has not only reduced our turnover but improved recruitment too.

“The blend of treating people fairly and doing business in the right way is our recipe for a successful company and a happy team.”

Muniya Barua, of campaign group BusinessLDN, said: “This above inflation increase in the London Living Wage will prove challenging for firms at a time when they are facing significant cost pressures.”

However she added there were clear business benefits.

“Not only does it help the lowest paid in society but it also boosts retention and recruitment of talent,” she said.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “By raising the salaries of the lowest paid workers in the capital, we can build a better and more prosperous city for all Londoners.”

More than £1.4bn in additional wages have gone to low-paid employees in London since 2011.