Ormeau Labs becomes the first Living Wage Hub in the Linen Quarter

At Linen Quarter BID, sustainability is more than just the environment, it’s about creating a district where businesses, people, and communities can thrive together. Fair pay and inclusive economic growth remains central to that vision, and we are proud to celebrate the organisations helping lead this change across the district.

Since launching our ambition to become Northern Ireland’s first sustainable district in 2021, we have continued to champion the real Living Wage as a practical way for businesses to support their employees and strengthen workplace wellbeing. After achieving our own Living Wage Accreditation in 2023, we introduced a unique incentive scheme that covers the first year of accreditation fees for BID members, currently the only scheme of its kind in Northern Ireland.

Celebrating their first year from becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer, Ormeau Labs continues to demonstrate the positive impact businesses can have when they put people first. Based in the historic Ormeau Baths building, Ormeau Labs has created more than a hub for innovation and collaboration, it has created a strong sense of community and inspired others around them to take action.

“Ormeau Labs has always been about more than providing workspace, it’s about building a community where people and businesses can collaborate, grow, and support one another. Becoming a Living Wage Employer reflects the values we want to champion, and we’re proud to work with our members and alongside organisations like Linen Quarter BID to help create a more inclusive and sustainable future for Belfast.”

 Amy Junkin, General Manager at Ormeau Labs

Their leadership has already encouraged their members, including Navigator Blue and Napoleon Coffee, to become accredited employers. Napoleon Coffee also made history as the first Living Wage café in the Linen Quarter, only the second in Northern Ireland, and one of just seven hospitality businesses in the region to hold the accreditation.

“By becoming an Accredited Real Living Wage employer, alongside our neighbours Ormeau Labs and Napoleon Coffee, we’re helping LQ BID in its goal of creating Northern Ireland’s first Living Wage District. Given the high cost of living, we hope that more businesses across the community also commit to this important movement. People should be paid fairly for the work they do and enjoy coming to work because their efforts are appropriately remunerated. As a business we also believe that employment should be the gateway to a fulfilling and rewarding life so we’re proud that our people have the opportunity to enrich and enjoy their lives.”

Gary Plant, Navigator Blue

“People have always been at the centre of Napoleon Coffee. As a small hospitality business, our team is such a huge part of the experience we create every day, and we believe it’s important that the people who contribute so much to the business feel valued, supported and fairly paid. We’ve proudly paid the Real Living Wage for the past three years, and becoming officially accredited this year feels like an important reflection of the ethos we’ve built the café around. We’re also proud to be the first hospitality venue in the Linen Quarter to become accredited, and one of only seven accredited hospitality businesses across Northern Ireland. Being based within the wider Ormeau Baths community alongside other accredited organisations including Ormeau Labs and Navigator Blue makes that recognition feel even more meaningful”

Rachel Snowden, Napoleon

Through the BID’s Living Wage support scheme, all three organisations were able to access funding for their first year of accreditation, helping remove financial barriers and making fair pay more achievable for local employers.

We’re proud to see organisations like Ormeau Labs leading the way and showing how businesses can create positive impact far beyond their own walls. Their commitment to fair pay and community is helping build a stronger, more inclusive Belfast, and we hope it inspires more organisations across the city to be part of this growing movement for positive change.”

 Chris McCracken, Managing Director at LQ BID

Today, there are 29 accredited Living Wage employers in the Linen Quarter, supporting 9,305 employees, including 1,278 pay uplifts. With almost one in six jobs in Northern Ireland paid below the real Living Wage, the role businesses can play in creating positive change has never been more important.

“Congratulations to Ormeau Labs. Not only are they celebrating one year as a Living Wage Employer, but they have also influenced Napoleon Coffee and Navigator Blue to accredit. In order to address the fact that Northern Ireland has the second highest rate of low pay in the UK, initiatives like Linen Quarter BID’s Living Wage incentive scheme, along with champions of the Living Wage such as Ormeau Labs, are vital. We urge more businesses in the Linen Quarter to join Ormeau Labs, Napoleon Coffee and Navigator Blue to put their people first by paying the real Living Wage and help make the Linen Quarter Northern Ireland’s first sustainable district.”

Mary McManus, Living Wage NI Regional Manager 

For Linen Quarter BID members considering accreditation, this is an opportunity to be part of a growing movement of businesses committed to fairness, wellbeing, and responsible growth. Together, we can continue building a district where sustainable business success goes hand in hand with supporting people and communities.

Contact: Lawrence Geoffrey Tingson, Sustainable District Manager at Lawrence@linenquarter.org