We’re an accredited real Living Wage Employer at 1st Formations

We’re pleased to share that 1st Formations is an accredited Real Living Wage Employer – a status we’ve held for several years and one that reflects a long-standing commitment to paying our team fairly. We first received the accreditation in September 2019, at a time when fewer than 4,000 employers across the UK held it. More than six years on, we’re marking that milestone and reaffirming why it matters to us.

Accreditation is awarded by the Living Wage Foundation, an independent organisation that calculates what people genuinely need to cover the basics and live with dignity. It’s entirely voluntary, which is exactly the point: employers that hold it have chosen to go beyond what the law requires.

As Keziah Cowan, Associate Director at 1st Formations, explains:

At 1st Formations, we believe in fair pay, equal treatment, and empowering everyone to thrive. Having been Living Wage accredited for many years, we’re proud that this commitment is recognised – and that all our team members are fairly compensated in a way that reflects the real cost of living.

Real Living Wage vs National Living Wage

The Real Living Wage and National Living Wage sound similar, and they’re often conflated – but they refer to two quite different things.

The National Living Wage is a statutory minimum set by the UK government: the legal floor below which employers cannot pay workers aged 21 and over. From April 2026, that rate will be £12.71 per hour.

The real Living Wage is different. Each year, the Living Wage Foundation publishes updated rates based on a rigorous, independently conducted analysis. The methodology works backwards from what households actually need – starting with a basket of goods and services representing a reasonable minimum standard of living, then factoring in taxes, benefits, and average working hours to arrive at an hourly figure.

The Foundation produces separate rates for London and the rest of the UK, reflecting the significant difference in housing and living costs. The current rates for 2025-26 are £13.45 per hour (UK outside London) and £14.80 per hour (London). Accredited employers must implement these rates by 1 May 2026.

The gap between these two figures may not look dramatic on paper, but for someone working full-time over the course of a year, it adds up to a meaningful difference in take-home pay.

Why fair pay matters to us

Paying the real Living Wage is a choice, and it reflects what we believe a good employer looks like.

There are practical benefits on both sides. For employees, a wage that reflects the actual cost of living makes a genuine difference to day-to-day financial stability: covering fixed costs without cutting corners, managing a household budget with a little more confidence, and not having to take on additional work to make ends meet.

For employers, the accreditation carries real weight. Over 16,000 businesses across the UK now hold real Living Wage status – and research consistently shows that accredited employers tend to see improved staff morale, lower turnover, and stronger recruitment appeal. When people feel valued, it shows.

It also signals something about how a business operates. Accreditation is publicly listed through the Living Wage Foundation, and the employer mark is independently verified – so it’s not a claim any organisation can make without backing it up.

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How to become an accredited real Living Wage Employer

For businesses considering accreditation, the process is more accessible than it might appear.

The Living Wage Foundation’s accreditation works through a signed licence. Once you register your interest, you’ll receive an online licence form along with implementation guidance. You confirm you meet the requirements, sign the licence, and gain access to the employer mark and public listing. Smaller organisations can sometimes complete the full process in around ten working days. For larger employers with more complex contract structures, this may take longer.

Annual fees are based on your organisation’s size and start from £71 per year for businesses with fewer than ten employees – making it a realistic option for even very small employers.

Our commitment to fair working conditions

Real Living Wage accreditation is one part of a broader commitment to making 1st Formations a genuinely great place to work. We believe that the terms on which people work should be fair, transparent, and dependable. That conviction shapes the decisions we make as an employer.

More recently, we’ve further extended that commitment. In October 2025, we became a Living Hours Employer, the ninth in London and among the first 100 in the UK. This initiative addresses not just what we pay our team, but also how predictably and securely they work.

The real Living Wage accreditation gives this commitment a concrete, externally verified form. Renewing it each year holds us to a standard that keeps pace with what life really costs.