In October 2011 Councillor Bill Randall formed the Brighton and Hove Living Wage Commission, chaired by Julia Chanteray, the President of the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce.
The commission met for six months, examining how paying the Living Wage could potentially affect local businesses and employees and how it might alleviate poverty in the city.
In February 2012, Brighton Chamber held a Big Debate to enable the city’s businesses to voice their views directly and when it came to the vote, the Living Wage received an overwhelming business endorsement.