B Corp Month: Why Do We Choose to Be a Living Wage Company

At Coaltown, our commitment to doing business responsibly goes beyond just words, it’s built into how we operate every day. As a certified B Corporation, we strive not only for environmental impact but also for social good and one of the clearest ways we demonstrate that is by being a Living Wage company.

What is the Living Wage?

The real Living Wage is a voluntary hourly rate that’s independently calculated based on the actual cost of living, unlike the legal minimum wage, which is set by the government and can be considerably lower. The Living Wage Foundation updates this rate annually to ensure that workers are paid enough to cover everyday essentials like food, housing, bills and transportation.

As stated on the Living Wage Foundation website, in 2025/26, the real Living Wage in the UK has been set at £13.45 per hour, significantly higher than the legal National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage across most age groups. Importantly, the Living Wage applies to all workers over the age of 18, recognising that living costs don’t stop just because someone is young.

Simply put ‘Minimum Wage’ is the legal baseline employers must pay by law. Where as ‘Living Wage’ is voluntary and independently calculated rate that reflects what people actually need to live with dignity. By choosing to pay the Living Wage, we ensure every member of our team earns enough to “thrive - not just survive”.

Choosing to pay the real Living Wage isn’t just ethically right, it has measurable benefits for employees, businesses and local communities:

For Workers:

• Security to meet everyday living costs
• Reduced stress
• Ability to save for emergencies

For Business:

• Accredited Living Wage employers reported higher staff morale, improved recruitment and retention and a stronger reputation
• Ethical credibility

For the Wider Economy:

• Increasing wages lifts spending and can boost local economies. Research suggests that just moving a fraction of low-paid workers onto the Living Wage could generate billions in economic output.

In Wales, the movement has gained meaningful traction. There are hundreds of accredited Living Wage employers across Wales and more than 20,000 workers have received pay increases as a result of Living Wage commitments. Despite this progress, a significant proportion of jobs still fall below what is needed to live. This is exactly why we choose to lead rather than follow, because fair wages are foundational to community wellbeing.

As a B Corp, we measure success not just by profit, but by people and planet. Paying the Living Wage strengthens our internal team culture. It aligns with B Corp standards for social responsibility and worker welfare and it reinforces our commitment to long‑term, ethical business practices. Here at Coaltown, we believe work should work for everyone, not just in name, but in practice. Being a Living Wage company means we’re investing in our people’s wellbeing and setting a higher standard for ethical business’s. We want to contribute to our communities and live out the values behind our B Corp certification.

If you’re passionate about fair pay, ethical business and the future of work, you’re in good company here at Coaltown.