MORE THAN 30 BUSINESSES ACCREDITED TO CROYDON’S GOOD EMPLOYER CHARTER

Cllr Watson presents Shaking Hands with their certificate of accreditation

MORE THAN 30 BUSINESSES ACCREDITED TO CROYDON’S GOOD EMPLOYER CHARTER

More than 30 businesses have become accredited members of Croydon council’s Good Employer Charter Network and benefited from a one-off business rate discount of up to £1,000.

The charter which is free to join, launched in January and aims to create a strong local economy by asking businesses to meet criteria made up of four key elements: Fair Pay, Employ Local, Include All and Buy Local.

Fair pay is a commitment to paying their employees London Living Wage, a wage rate higher than the government’s National Minimum Wage because it is calculated according to the cost of living.

Employ local asks businesses to agree to support the creation of jobs and training opportunities for Croydon residents by considering them for positions in their organisation and where possible employing locally.

Signatories also commit to being an inclusive employer by promoting equality and diversity in the workplace and implementing best practice for employee support; as well as promising to support the local economy by buying local and investing in local businesses.

Over the past 10 months, a range of Croydon businesses working across a variety of sectors have secured accreditation, including Dotmailer, Mind in Croydon, Ikea, Croydon Bid and Croydon Health Services NHS Trust; with 42 other local employers pledging to work towards full accreditation.

Four new employers have become accredited during Croydon Business Month, including the Whitgift Foundation and Shaking Hands.

Laurence Grant, director of Shaking Hands said: “The pledge and accreditation process has been very straight forward, and has allowed us to proudly join the growing group of business owners in Croydon who support local recruitment, nurture local supply chains, and who are, or are working towards, paying the London Living Wage for all members of staff.

“The Good Employer Charter is a fantastic opportunity for any business in Croydon to support its local people, economy and future.”

The first 100 SMEs that become accredited are entitled to a one-off business rate discount of up to £1,000; this additional benefit remains on offer until the end of the financial year.

Cllr Mark Watson, Croydon’s cabinet member for economy and jobs, says: “I am really pleased more and more businesses are seeking accreditation and pledging their support.

“The Good Employer Charter is a fantastic way for businesses to not only support local people, but also to contribute to a strong local economy.

“We still want all Croydon businesses to become accredited members of the charter and I hope more local employers see the benefits not just for themselves, but for Croydon as a whole, of being a recognised good employer, and sign up.”

To find out more about becoming an accredited business visit http://www.goodemployercroydon.com

(Source: Croydon council press release)