Over the past year, Bob has played a leading role in encouraging Barnet Council to become an accredited Living Wage Employer. The move means hundreds of subcontracted workers employed on council contracts will now receive the real Living Wage – an independently calculated rate designed to better reflect the actual cost of living.

The campaign grew from concerns shared by Barnet’s food banks, which have seen increasing numbers of people in work needing emergency food parcels. They say low pay remains one of the biggest reasons many working households continue to struggle despite being employed.

Speaking after receiving the award, Bob said: “The accreditation of the London Borough of Barnet as a Living Wage Employer is a big boost for our community. We’re proud of what has been achieved so far and will continue working to encourage other major employers, including the Royal Free Foundation Trust, to become accredited too.”

The Living Wage Foundation praised Bob’s “outstanding, consistent and impactful advocacy”, recognising his contribution to growing the Living Wage movement, which now includes almost 17,000 accredited employers across the UK.

The annual Living Wage Champion Awards celebrate individuals and organisations that have made an exceptional contribution to promoting fair pay and improving working conditions. This year’s ceremony also marked the 25th anniversary of the Living Wage movement, which began in East London.