Navigating the Real Living Wage Rise: How You Can Maintain Fair Pay Without Compromising Sustainability

As the Real Living Wage rises to £13.45 per hour across the UK and £14.80 in London, you’re likely feeling the pressure this brings to your facilities management (FM) operations. While the increase rightly benefits thousands of workers, it also poses a real financial challenge for FM providers, where labour often accounts for around 70% of total operating costs.

At Sitemark, we understand the balancing act you face — ensuring fair pay for your teams while maintaining financial sustainability. As an accredited Real Living Wage Employer, we’re committed to helping you meet these standards in a way that supports both your people and your business performance.

Supporting Fair Pay Through Smarter Operations

“The Real Living Wage is fundamental to a fairer economy and improving people’s lives,” says Mike Boxall, Managing Director at Sitemark. “However, we also recognise that these increases create real pressure on FM budgets, especially where margins are already tight. Our role is to help you meet your pay obligations sustainably — not through cost-cutting, but through smarter operations.”

That’s where Sitemark’s benchmarking methodology comes in. By comparing your performance against industry standards, you can identify inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and unlock savings — all without compromising service quality or employee welfare.

As Mike explains, “Benchmarking provides the evidence base for confident decision-making. You can see exactly where improvements can be made, optimise resource allocation, and enhance productivity. It’s about achieving operational excellence while doing right by your workforce.”

Taking a Proactive Approach as Real Living Wage Rises

With more FM providers seeking Living Wage accreditation, now is the time to take a proactive look at your operating model. Data-driven benchmarking gives you the insight and confidence to embed fair pay in a financially sustainable way.

At Sitemark, we’re here to help you turn these challenges into opportunities for improvement — supporting your teams, strengthening your reputation, and building a more resilient business.

Find out how you can support fair pay through operational efficiency. Contact our team directly to discuss how benchmarking can work for you.