An additional 172 residents will receive improved pay after the Oxford Living Wage was raised.
Twenty-eight organisations have agreed to pay the 2026/27 Oxford Living Wage of £14.06 per hour, extending benefits to 1,298 further employees.
Since the rate was unveiled in November and came into force in April, the number of approved employers has grown to 193.
This brings the total to over 32,000 local workers earning a minimum of £14.06 hourly.
The Oxford Living Wage is calculated as 95 percent of the London Living Wage, accounting for Oxford’s elevated living expenses.
The fresh organisations signing up include Active Oxfordshire, African Families in the UK (AFiUK), Agile Collective Ltd, ASA Landscape Architects Ltd, Cinderella’s Cleaning Services (Oxford) Limited, Cyclox, Damascus Rose Kitchen, ExamSure, IRL Oxford, Kelpie Coffee, Makespace Oxford, Mortimer Hall Management Committee, Natural Bread Company, OCCA House LTD, Oxford Biomedica UK Limited, Oxford Hospitals Charity, Oxford North, Oxford Professional Education Group, OXPIP, Purcell Architecture Ltd, Refeyn Ltd, Stella’s Cleaning Services Ltd, Sustainable Asset Maintenance Services, Systematic Review Consultants LTD, The Mint House, The Missing Bean Ltd, The Project PT Limited, and Versantus IT Services Limited.
Oxford City Council is urging any enterprise based in or operating within the city that pays £14.06 or more to all employees to pursue accreditation.
Achieving Oxford Living Wage status demonstrates an organisation’s dedication to equitable compensation, aids both hiring and keeping staff, and can support environmental, social and governance goals alongside corporate social responsibility targets.
The Oxford Living Wage scheme launched in 2018 to tackle Oxford’s persistent reputation as one of Britain’s least affordable locations.
It undergoes annual adjustment by Oxford City Council using research from the Living Wage Foundation and Resolution Foundation examining genuine living costs including accommodation, sustenance, and transportation.
Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, stated that every Oxford Living Wage employer, whether newly joining or renewing accreditation, large or small, plays a direct role in establishing a more equitable city. She expressed enthusiasm about the number of organisations that have become part of this community in recent months and hopes it motivates further businesses to consider joining. She noted that collectively, they are building a fairer Oxford while supporting local households and strengthening the regional economy.
Olly Wilkins, marketing director at Missing Bean, mentioned that the company employs individuals who demonstrate genuine care about their coffee, their customers, and the surrounding neighbourhood. He explained that they provide staff with autonomy to make the café their own, and by compensating everyone at or above the Oxford Living Wage standard, those employees gain the chance to remain part of their local communities while sharing the same passion for continuing to serve quality products consistently.