London home care provider named regional Living Wage Champion

Penrose Care was named London Living Wage Champion 2016 at the Living Wage awards ceremony held at the British Library in London.

Judged by an independent panel of community leaders, the Living Wage Champion award recognises regional organisations that have done the most to implement, promote and celebrate the Living Wage.

Penrose Care, which provides a range of home care services to people in London, was shortlisted from 1,000 accredited Living Wage employers in the London region.

On receiving the award, Robert Stephenson-Padron, managing director, said: “Penrose Care is incredibly humbled by the incredible honour of being the London Living Wage Employer Champion of 2016.

“By acting ethically and morally, Penrose Care provides the surest guarantee to our management and to our clients that Penrose Care will provide the highest quality of care that no legal or technological innovation could ever mimic.”

Guests of honour

The home care provider was joined at the awards by a number of guests of honour, including Tulip Siddiq, shadow minister for early years and MP for Hampstead and Kilburn who congratulated Penrose Care on its achievement.

She said: “I am proud to support them and I hope other organisations will follow their brilliant example.”

Penrose Care was also joined by Cllr Claire-Louise Leyland, leader of the opposition of Camden Council and councillor of Belsize ward, the care provider’s home ward.

Cllr Leyland said: “I’m so delighted to see a local Belsize business, Penrose Care, receiving an award this morning.

“Bob and his team have set an example for small businesses across Camden. I hope that the providers of homecare nationally will see what can be achieved with a passionate commitment to service excellence and real care.”

International recognition

The Camden-based care provider has engaged in various social care research collaborations with the Government of Japan and was commended by Mr Kosuke Wada, first secretary for health, labour and welfare at the embassy of Japan, who attended the ceremony.

Mr Wada said: “Congratulations Penrose Care for winning the Living Wage Champion Award 2016. I appreciate your great job.

“Labour issues are getting more and more important globally and an excellent model is necessary for everyone.”

Living Wage increased by 3.7 per cent

The awards coincide with Living Wage Week, a nationwide celebration which aims to raise awareness of the need for a Living Wage.

At the start of Living Wage Week on 31 October, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced the 3.7 per cent increase of the London Living Wage from £9.40 to £9.75 per hour, which Penrose Care intends to pay its care workers with immediate effect.

The Mayor of London said: “It’s great news that London is leading the way in paying the Living Wage and that over 1,000 businesses are now accredited and helping to make this a fairer and more equal city.

“As many employers already accredited know, the benefits are clear – including increased productivity and reduced staff turnover.

“The London Living Wage is a fantastic campaign and I will be working to encourage more businesses across our great city to get involved.”

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