Sir.–I am writing to congratulate Festival Place for being recognised as a ‘Living Wage’ employer in our town by the Living Wage Foundation, and also receiving the highest standard Investors in People award.

They are the first shopping centre to be added to the growing list of employers both small and large that are paying their employees the ‘Living Wage’.

I think that recognising and rewarding businesses for delivering the ‘Living Wage’ is really important. I know how hard it is to get by in our town, and some employers continue to exploit people with Zero Hours Contracts that don’t pay enough to meet the bills and put food on the table.

Some people are holding down multiple jobs just to bring in enough every month. It isn’t easy affording to live in our town, and it is important that everyone can share in the prosperity of our local economy.

We need to sustain and grow that virtuous circle of shared prosperity. I want an economy that works for everyone. So when major local employers like Festival Place do their bit and pay the ‘Living Wage’ I think it is important we recognise them.

–Dr Paul Harvey, Basingstoke’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate.