With effect from this week Norwich Theatre has become a Real Living Wage employer as part of our strategic commitment to making the organisation an outstanding place to work.
This year it will mean an average pay award of 10.3% across eligible employees and a 14.7% increase for variable hour employees currently earning the National Living Wage.
Norwich Theatre will now apply for Real Living Wage Employer accreditation. Our plan is to then actively support the Norwich Living Wage City Action Group (NLWAG) an alliance of local businesses, charities and public sector organisations all of whom are Living Wage Employers, including Norwich City Council, Aviva, Future Projects and Broadland Housing Association. Their collective ambition is to substantially increase Living Wage jobs in the city, and ultimately make Norwich a Living Wage City.
As Michael Newey prepares to complete his tenure later this year as Chair of the Board of Trustees, he shared his heartfelt thanks to Norwich Theatre employees, with the Board giving its unanimous approval on the decision to become a Real Living Wage Employer alongside additional wellbeing benefits such as increased holiday, green travel scheme and gym discounts.
Michael Newey, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Norwich Theatre said: “The year’s review has taken place in light of a range of influences, including current and forecast future financial position and the economic situation. We appreciate that the ongoing cost of living crisis means that individual and household finances are and will continue to be under pressure for some time. I strongly believe that becoming a Real Living Wage Employer now is absolutely the right thing to do and is a demonstrable and tangible commitment to the pledges made in our strategy.”
Daniel Childerhouse, CEO of Future Projects and Member of NLWAG said: “The Norwich Living Wage Action Group is delighted to welcome Norwich Theatre to the Living Wage Community. We are so pleased to see yet another high profile local institution recognise the importance of fair pay in our fine City, and do the right thing by it its workforce by becoming an accredited Living Wage employer. There is now a real sense of momentum in the campaign locally; when the Action Group signed off our plan to tackle low pay in September 2022, there were 64 Real Living Wage accredited employers in Norwich, and the Theatre will be our 75th. We are well on our way towards our target of 140 employers accredited by 2025.”
Cllr Alan Waters, Leader of Norwich City Council said: “Norwich has been designated, by the Living Wage Foundation as a ‘Living Wage City’. We have a three year plan to significantly expand the number of employers paying the ‘Real Living Wage’. The news that Norwich Theatre, one of our key cultural institutions, is to become a Real Living Wage Employer is tremendous news and a significant boost to the campaign to ensure everyone across Norwich gets a decent wage.”
Stephen Crocker, Chief Executive and Creative Director of Norwich Theatre said: “Over the six years that it has been my honour to lead this organisation there have been some special and important milestones and achievements. I can honestly say that few have brought me more joy than being able to achieve Real Living Wage status for our dedicated staff by this point in our strategy and post-COVID recovery and in an economic climate when, as a major employer, the financial wellbeing of our people has never been more important.”