A long term commitment by London-based commercial cleaning company Cleanology to fair pay has resulted in a win at the recent prestigious Living Wage Champion Awards.

CEO Dominic Ponniah celebrated the win with staff, saying: “Of all the awards Cleanology has won in recent years, this has the most significance. It means so much to our team, which campaigns tirelessly to make Cleanology a Living Wage company. In an industry known for low pay and fast turnover of staff, we are committed to changing the landscape, and we are unbelievably proud to receive recognition for our work.”

Cleanology was the winner of the Recognised Service Provider 2021 category. Since 2017, the company has almost doubled the number of employees receiving the Real Living Wage. As well as promoting fair pay among clients through awareness-raising events and annual reviews, it includes a Real Living Wage option in every new bid and makes it clear that this is the preferred way of working. Forty per cent of bids include the Real Living Wage as a mandatory element.

In 2019, Cleanology – based in Clapham, South West London – commissioned the first independent research into attitudes around wage levels and perceptions towards cleaners’ pay.

Ponniah added: “Fair pay is a basic right. Signing up to the Real Living Wage offers employees security and gives a clear message that they are valued. In return, we are rewarded with greater loyalty and more thorough work. We will continue to push for the Real Living Wage throughout our organisation.”

Laura Gardiner, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, which organised the awards, said: “Despite the challenges of the past 18 months, the Living Wage movement has never been stronger – we’ve continued to grow, welcoming our 7,000th employer, and we have come together to recognise some of the outstanding work these employers have done. The Living Wage Champion Awards 2021 are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the importance of a wage that truly covers the cost of living and the value this provides for workers and businesses, and I congratulate Cleanology on their deserved award.”

The annual Living Wage Champion Awards celebrate notable employers that pay the Real Living Wage. This year, they recognised 20 years of the Living Wage campaign. Last week’s awards were hosted by YolanDa Brown, well-known saxophonist, composer and broadcaster. The awards were sponsored by Aviva.