Behind Every Payslip Is a Person: My Speech at the Living Wage Foundation Parliamentary Reception

Introduction

On 8th May 2025, I had the incredible honour of speaking at the Living Wage Foundation Parliamentary Reception at Westminster.

I stood alongside inspiring leaders, campaigners, and changemakers who believe in a simple but powerful truth: paying people fairly changes lives.

As the founder of Boo Coaching & Consulting, Chair of the Bolton Family Social Value Partnership and Co-Chair of the We Are Bolton Ambassador Programme, I shared not just our story as a Living Wage Employer but my own personal journey — from growing up in poverty to building a business where people come first.

Below, I’m sharing the full speech I delivered. I hope it inspires other businesses, leaders, and communities to join the movement for fairness, dignity, and good work for all.

Full Speech: Living Wage Foundation Parliamentary Reception — Becci Martin

Good morning everyone

I’m Becci Martin – founder of Boo Coaching and Consulting, Chair of the Bolton Family Social Value Partnership, and Co-Chair of the We Are Bolton Ambassador Programme.
But first and foremost, I stand here today as someone who knows personally how much the Living Wage matters.

I grew up experiencing poverty first-hand.
And I can tell you from lived experience:
Poverty doesn’t just shape your childhood – it can limit your choices, your confidence, and your future.
There’s plenty of research about poor outcomes and inequality, but I don’t need a report to know the reality.
I’ve lived it.

That’s why, in 2016, I made a promise – not just to my team, but to myself:
When I built my business, it would be different.
It would be a business that lifted people up, not kept them stuck.
I chose to become a Living Wage Employer because I wanted to support families, communities, and our local economy to grow.

Because I know that behind every payslip is a person – a family – a future.
And work should never leave people choosing between heating and eating.

At Boo, paying the Real Living Wage is just the beginning.
Behind the scenes, we’ve worked hard to build a workplace rooted in trust, fairness, and genuine care – where people feel safe, seen, and supported, every single day.
Because good work changes everything.

And it’s not just me.
My team live and breathe this commitment too – in fact, they’re so passionate about the Living Wage movement that last year, they dressed up as actual mermaids and headed to a local lake and won the Living Wage Foundation’s national photo competition!

Yes – mermaids. In Bolton. In November.

We turned heads, made waves, and raised awareness – all in one go.
Because when we say we believe in fair pay and dignity at work, we don’t just say it – we show up, we get creative, and we make it unforgettable.

That same drive is behind my work as Chair of the Bolton Family Social Value Partnership.
In Bolton, we didn’t want good employment to be something just a few businesses could do.
We wanted to make it easy for every employer to be better.

So we created simple, powerful social value pledges that help businesses take real, practical steps.
One of those pledges is about the Living Wage.
We ask businesses:
Even if you can’t yet become a Living Wage Employer, could you ensure that at least 75% of your supply chain pays the Real Living Wage?

Because the truth is – even small steps shift systems.
Even small actions can start big change.
And when more businesses step up, we all rise together.

The Living Wage is more than a payslip.
It’s about dignity.
It’s about equality.
It’s about unlocking potential – in people, in families, in communities, in towns like mine.

Being part of this movement reminds me every day:
We are not powerless.
We can build workplaces – and futures – where no one is held back simply because of where they started in life.

But only if we keep going.
Only if we keep challenging the old excuses.
Only if we keep proving, again and again, that better business is possible – and better business works.

So today, I want to thank you for everything you’ve already done.
And I want to challenge you, gently but boldly:

What else can you pledge?
Whose life could you change next?
How can you help make the Living Wage the norm, not the exception?

Together, we are not just changing payslips.
We are changing futures.
And there is no better legacy than that.

So let’s keep going.
Let’s keep choosing better – not just for profit, but for people.
Because we’re not just building businesses.
We’re building work that works for everyone.
And there’s no more important work than that.

Thank you.

Why This Moment Mattered

Speaking at Westminster wasn’t just a professional milestone – it was a personal one.

I’m proud of what we’ve built at Boo Coaching & Consulting. But more than that, I’m proud to represent every small business proving that purpose-driven workplaces can thrive.

Our team doesn’t just talk about values – we live them. Whether it’s paying fairly, supporting wellbeing, or dressing up as mermaids to raise awareness (yes, really!), we believe in showing up and standing out.

A Call to Action

If you’re a business owner, leader, or policymaker reading this:

What’s your next pledge?
Whose life could you change?

Even small steps can create big change. Behind every payslip is a person — and when we choose better, we all rise together.

Let’s Keep This Conversation Going

If you’d like to learn more about how Boo Coaching & Consulting supports good employment, social value, and workplace wellbeing — or how to become a Living Wage Employer — get in touch. We’d love to connect.

📩 hello@boo-consulting.com
🌍 www.boo-consulting.com

#LivingWage #SocialValue #GoodEmployment #WeAreBolton #Leadership #SmallBusiness #HappinessAtWork

Behind Every Payslip Is a Person: My Speech at the Living Wage Foundation Parliamentary Reception