Good Work Standard
London-specific employer charter setting expectations around workforce conditions; increasingly required in London public sector procurement.
Definition
The Mayor's Good Work Standard is a London-specific employer charter setting expectations around workforce conditions, living wage, learning and development, and workplace mental health. The standard is operated by the Greater London Authority and is increasingly required (or strongly preferred) in London public sector procurement. Suppliers can achieve accreditation at three levels (Foundation, Achievement, Excellence) reflecting depth of workforce commitment. The charter is the London equivalent of Scottish Fair Work First and similar regional frameworks.
How it works in practice
The Good Work Standard covers five workforce areas: fair pay (London Living Wage as minimum), decent working hours and contracts (no inappropriate use of zero-hours), workforce voice (trade union recognition or equivalent), workforce wellbeing (mental health support, occupational health), and learning and development (training investment, career progression). Accreditation requires evidence against each area; the three accreditation levels reflect depth of commitment beyond minimum compliance. Foundation is the entry level demonstrating compliance with the basic criteria; Achievement and Excellence require evidence of broader workforce investment and outcomes. London local authorities, the GLA family, and Transport for London increasingly require Good Work Standard accreditation or equivalent commitment in above-threshold procurement. For suppliers the implication is similar to Fair Work First in Scotland: workforce conditions are part of bid evaluation, not just delivery quality. Bidders into London public sector should be familiar with the standard and consider accreditation as a competitive differentiator. The standard sits alongside the broader PPN 002 social value framework: workforce commitments under the Good Work Standard typically map directly to TOMs measures.
Common questions
Is Good Work Standard accreditation mandatory for London public sector contracts?
Not universally mandatory but increasingly preferred or required for above-threshold procurement by London local authorities, the GLA family, and Transport for London. Specific procurements state the requirement; some accept equivalent evidence without formal accreditation, others require Foundation or higher.
How does Good Work Standard compare to Fair Work First?
Both frameworks cover similar workforce conditions territory: Real Living Wage, contract security, workforce voice, training investment. Good Work Standard is London-specific operated by the GLA; Fair Work First is Scottish-specific operated by Scottish Government. The criteria are substantially aligned but the accreditation processes and specific evidence requirements differ.
What is the cost of Good Work Standard accreditation?
No direct accreditation fee. The substantial cost is implementing the workforce commitments: London Living Wage payment, training investment, occupational health and mental health support, workforce voice infrastructure. For SMEs the cost can be material; for many organisations the workforce investments justify themselves through retention and productivity benefits.