New Real Living Wage Rates Announced for 2026

The Living Wage Foundation has announced the new real Living Wage rates for 2026, increasing to £14.10 an hour across the UK and £15.45 in London. That’s an increase of 65p an hour for both rates and an important step in helping pay keep pace with the everyday cost of living.

At City & Essex, this is something we’re always pleased to see.

Our commitment to the Living Wage

We’ve been a Living Wage Recognised Service Provider since 2014, and our commitment has always come back to a simple belief: the people we work alongside every day deserve a wage they can live on.

As a people-first business, looking after our colleagues goes beyond their working day. Our teams bring care, pride and dedication to the sites they look after. Many have built long-standing relationships with our customers and become an important part of the workplaces they support. Their contribution is at the heart of the service we provide, and fair pay is an important part of recognising that.

What the increase can mean

For someone working 37.5 hours a week, the latest increase represents more than £1,250 extra over a full year before deductions. That’s money that can help towards the weekly shop, household bills, travel or an unexpected expense.

We know how quickly everyday costs can add up, so changes like this can make a meaningful difference to our colleagues and their families. That’s why we want as many of our teams as possible to benefit from the real Living Wage.

Working together to support fair pay

Our customers have an important role to play in making this possible. We’re incredibly grateful to those who continue to support the real Living Wage across the sites we look after and share our belief in creating fair, sustainable employment.

We’ll continue working closely with our customers, colleagues and the Living Wage Foundation to champion fair pay and help raise standards across our industry. A huge thank you to everyone who continues to support that commitment.