LUSH has been named a trailblazer for its work to promote the voluntary Living Wage.

The Poole-based global cosmetics brand used the occasion to encourage other companies in its sector to commit to higher pay.

Lush won the Industry Trailblazer title at the Living Wage Champion Awards.

It became a living Wage employer in 2011 and has committed to paying the independently-set Living Wage ever since.

The award recognises it for going beyond just paying the wage and setting employer standards in its industry.

Kat Hannible, Lush retail director for the UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be considered an Industry Trailblazer in such an important area; paying our workers the real living wage has never been more important.

“Our dedicated retail and manufacturing staff are the backbone of our business, making and selling our fresh products. It would be remiss of me not to use this opportunity to encourage other UK retailers to join us; we would like to pass this award to another retailer next year.

“We owe a great deal to the Living Wage Foundation for the diligent work they do to provide us with the rates each year. The trust we, and our staff are able to place in them, is crucial to making the implementation of the rates work.”

Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: “Despite the continuing challenges of the past two years, the Living Wage movement has never been stronger – we’ve continued to grow, welcoming our 10,000th employer, and tonight we come together to recognise some of the outstanding leadership these employers have shown.

“The Living Wage Champion Awards 2022 are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the importance of a wage that covers the cost of living and the value this provides for workers and businesses, particularly during the cost-of-living crisis, and I warmly congratulate Lush on their deserved award.”

The current UK Living Wage currently stands at £9.90 an hour, or £11.05 in London. The figure is based on the cost of living and is calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation for the Living Wage Commission.

It is different from the government’s compulsory national living wage, introduced in 2016, which applies to over-23s and is currently £9.50 an hour.