The creative and cultural industries employ around 3.5 million people across the UK and a quarter (25%) of roles are London based. Yet, research from the Living Wage Foundation found that 20.4% of jobs that fall under the category of ‘Arts, entertainment and recreation’ are paid below the London Living Wage of £11.96 per hour.

To promote fairer pay within the cultural and creative industry and to call on more employers to pay a living wage, a group of accredited London Living Wage employers have launched The Creative and Cultural Action Group. The Action Group is part of the 'Making London a Living Wage City' project. The co-chairs of the group are Fiona Gordon, CEO of Ogilvy UK (representing parent company WPP), and Angela Jain, Director of Unscripted UK, ITV Studios. 

The creative sector in isolation generates over £115.9 billion and is growing at twice the rate of the national economy. Yet, in London, some industries within the creative and cultural world - such as film, television and music - have a higher proportion of low-paid jobs compared to other industries.

As the UK battles with a cost of living crisis, the Action Group has been formed as a part of the Real Living Wage which campaign aims to support communities taking action to ensure workers are paid a wage that reflects the current economic situation. With inflation soaring to 10.4% in February, and the industry in a wide-spread talent crunch now is the time to make sure workers are paid fairly to ensure families across the UK do not fall into poverty. 

The Making London a Living Wage City project, led by Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation, aims to put hundreds of millions of pounds of wages into the pockets of Londoners and lift tens of thousands of workers out of in-work poverty by boosting the number of accredited Living Wage and Living Hours employers across the capital.  

The Creative and Cultural Action Group is a coalition of businesses in the industries, civil society, and public organizations, including the Greater London Authority (GLA), WPP, ITV Studios, Creative UK, Artichoke, Guardian News & Media, Creature London, People Like Us, Youth Music, Bectu, Jerwood Arts, London Stadium, University of the Arts London, Living Wage Foundation and Citizens UK. 

The launch of the Action Group marks the beginning of work to increase uptake of the Living Wage accreditation among London employers across the creative industries, which will evolve over time to respond to industry-specific challenges and the landscape of low pay. 

"The creative and cultural industries can be a force for good as well as a source of enjoyment and provocation. I am delighted to be co-chairing this project, not only because it is close to my heart but because it is important too. Working across sectors as allies we can make a difference,” said Angela Jain, Director of Unscripted UK, ITV Studios.

As well as focusing on the issues around low pay and ensuring that companies pay the London Living Wage which currently stands at £11.96 per hour, the project will also tackle precarious work through Living Hours, a standard to help workers get the hours they need to make ends meet and protect them from job insecurity.

“Londoners working in the creative and cultural sectors add enormous value to London’s economy and social fabric and, with the rising cost of living, it is more important than ever they receive a decent wage.” says The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

He continues: “A fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. That is why I have long championed the London Living Wage and fully support this work to make London a Living Wage city. This new Action Group to tackle low pay in certain sub sectors of our creative and cultural industries will help to bring greater financial security to thousands of people, ensuring a better, fairer, more prosperous London for all.”