The number of people working for London Living Wage employees in Lewisham has risen by 800 per cent since 2015.

The latest figures show over 3,000 people work for companies who have pledged to pay London Living Wage.

The Mayor of London announced on November 6 that the London Living Wage would rise from £9.40 an hour to £10.20.

Lewisham became the joint first Living Wage accredited council in the country in March 2012 and over the past five years 45 employers in the borough have agreed to pay their staff a London Living Wage.

Vicki Skingley, owner of Good Food Catford in Sandhurst Parade, became an accredited London Living Wage employer in 2016.

She said: “When you treat people respectfully you get the best out of them as an employer. I’ve got some great people working for me and the living wage really helps me to retain and motivate them.

“The London Living Wage plays a large part in making them feel valued and a part of the businesses success.”

Councillor Joe Dromey, cabinet member for policy and performance, said: “It’s great to see nearly 50 Lewisham employers agreeing to pay their staff a London Living Wage. That means over 3000 people in Lewisham now work for organisations who pay the London Living Wage.

“But we want to see far more and I urge every employer in Lewisham to do the right thing and to pay their staff at least the London Living Wage.”