Jo Sutherland, Managing Director of Magenta Associates, has answered four quick questions to help us get to know them a little bit better.
Magenta Associates is a PR and communications consultancy founded in 2011, specialising in facilities management, workplace, and the built environment. We’re driven by a clear purpose: to harness the power of communications to drive social and environmental change.
Over the past 14 years, we’ve built a reputation for working with sustainable and socially responsible organisations that share our values. In October 2024, we transitioned to becoming employee-owned, and in April 2025, we achieved B Corp certification. These milestones weren’t just box-ticking exercises; they’re a reflection of our commitment to using business as a force for good.
We’ve embedded social and environmental considerations into every decision we make, placing them on par with financial performance. This isn’t just rhetoric, but how we operate day-to-day.
It’s quite simple really: it’s the right thing to do. We’ve always paid above minimum wage, but becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer was about making a formal commitment to fair pay that reflects the real cost of living.
Our values – progressive, human, and expert – aren’t just words on our website. They guide how we treat our people, and fair pay is fundamental to that. We want our team to feel valued and secure, knowing they’re being compensated fairly for their contributions.
Becoming Living Wage accredited also aligned perfectly with our broader mission. How could we authentically champion social responsibility for our clients if we weren’t walking the walk ourselves? It’s about integrity and leading by example.
Through our client work, we’ve had the privilege of amplifying the voices of businesses committed to fair pay. We’ve helped Corps Security to champion its approach across the security industry. This work doesn’t just benefit one company; it helps set standards and inspire others.
We’re also proud that a number of our clients are Recognised Service Providers under the Living Wage scheme. Through our communications work with these organisations, we help showcase how paying fair wages isn’t just ethically right but also makes sound business sense – improving staff retention, motivation and service quality.
By telling these stories effectively, we’re contributing to a broader cultural shift in industries that have traditionally struggled with low pay. That’s the power of communications when it’s used purposefully.
Our Living Wage commitment ties into our wider ambitions as a business. Following our B Corp certification, we’re continuing to deepen our focus on working exclusively with purpose-driven organisations that contribute to social and environmental sustainability.
We’re expanding into new sectors – energy, environmental services, social enterprises, higher education and not-for-profits – all aligned with our core values. Fair pay and ethical employment practices will remain non-negotiable criteria when we’re choosing who to work with.
We’re also developing more sophisticated advisory services to help clients align their business practices with environmental and social goals. This includes supporting them on their own Living Wage journeys and helping them communicate their commitments authentically.
Ultimately, we’re not doing this because we’re chasing targets or accolades. We’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do. As we breathe life into our purpose, fair pay for all will remain at the heart of everything we build.
A big thank you to Jo and the team at Magenta Associates for being a Living Wage employer!
Find out more about the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign here. If you think you’re already a Living Wage employer, or would like to sign up, head over to this page to get started (it’s free!)
It's a good idea and we support it.
"We feel that it’s essential that staff feel valued and supported and the Living Wage Campaign does so much to help ensure that hard-working people get a fair and reasonable income. This is why the College is proud to give this campaign our wholehearted backing."
We believe in supporting a healthy and flexible work-life balance and a key part of this is properly compensating people for the work they do. By signing up to this campaign we hope to help promote the values of the Living Wage across Brighton and beyond.
It is important to pay a decent, fair wage.
Being based in Brighton, an expensive city, we understand the need to pair staff fairly for their contribution to our company. We will ensure all staff members are paid above the London living wage due to this fact.
