Written by Nadoya Reid, Communication and Information Officer at London Legal Support Trust
Following the launch of two major reports on pay and conditions in London's social welfare advice sector at last year's Helping Hands Conference, the Advice Workforce Development Fund has published two new briefings to help turn the research findings into action.
The briefings are designed for two key audiences: advice organisations seeking to strengthen recruitment, retention and workforce wellbeing, and funders looking to support more sustainable employment practices across the sector.
The original reports, commissioned through the AWDF, highlighted significant pressures facing advice workers and employers. They found that many staff are highly motivated by the impact of their work, but that low pay, limited career progression, insecure contracts, and stretched working conditions are making it harder for organisations to recruit and retain experienced advisers.
The briefing for advice organisations summarises practical steps that employers can consider when reviewing pay, benefits, and wider working conditions. It encourages employers to develop clear pay policies, offer flexible working arrangements, and to aim to offer 25 days of annual leave. It also points to the importance of permanent contracts, the London Living Wage, and Employee Assistance Programmes.
The briefing for funders focuses on the role that grant-makers and strategic partners can play in enabling better pay and conditions. It invites funders to consider how funding models, grant lengths, core cost contributions and reporting requirements can affect workforce stability and organisational capacity.
By drawing out key messages from the research, the funder briefing makes the case for investment that reflects the true cost of delivering high-quality advice. This includes supporting permanent roles where possible, and helping organisations plan for pay progression, supervision, training and wellbeing support.
