Twenty-eight new employers have committed to paying the 2026/27 Oxford Living Wage rate of £14.06 an hour, which is set to benefit 1,298 additional workers.

Since the wage was announced in November and took effect in April, the total number of accredited employers has risen to 193.

This means more than 32,000 local people will be paid at least £14.06 an hour.

The Oxford Living Wage is set at 95 per cent of the London Living Wage, reflecting the high cost of living in the city.

The new employers who have committed to the Oxford Living Wage are Active Oxfordshire, African Families in the UK (AFiUK), Agile Collective Ltd, ASA Landscape Architects Ltd, Cinderella’s Cleaning Services (Oxford) Limited, Cyclox, Damascus Rose Kitchen, ExamSure, IRL Oxford, Kelpie Coffee, Makespace Oxford, Mortimer Hall Management Committee, Natural Bread Company, OCCA House LTD, Oxford Biomedica UK Limited, Oxford Hospitals Charity, Oxford North, Oxford Professional Education Group, OXPIP, Purcell Architecture Ltd, Refeyn Ltd, Stella’s Cleaning Services Ltd, Sustainable Asset Maintenance Services, Systematic Review Consultants LTD, The Mint House, The Missing Bean Ltd, The Project PT Limited, and Versantus IT Services Limited.

Oxford City Council has encouraged any business based or operating in the city that pays £14.06 or more to all staff to seek accreditation.

An Oxford Living Wage accreditation indicates an employer’s commitment to fair pay, supports recruitment and retention, and can contribute towards environmental, social and governance (ESG), as well as corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives.

The Oxford Living Wage was introduced in 2018 to address Oxford’s long-standing status as one of the UK’s most unaffordable cities.

It is determined annually by Oxford City Council based on the Living Wage Foundation and Resolution Foundation’s research into actual living costs, such as housing, food, and transport.

Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said: “Every single Oxford Living Wage employer – new or reaccrediting, big or small – is directly helping to build a fairer city.

“I am delighted that so many have joined the community in the last few months and I hope it inspires others to consider it.

“Together, we’re creating a fairer Oxford, supporting local families and helping boost our local economy.”

Olly Wilkins, marketing director at Missing Bean, added: “We hire people who care: about the coffee, about the customers, and about the community around them.

“We give them the space to make the Cafe their own, and by paying everyone Oxford Living Wage and above, means they have the opportunity to live amongst their communities and be as enthusiastic as we are to keep serving the good stuff, day-in, day-out.”

The Cotswold village of Langford will open its gardens on Sunday, June 14 from 1pm to 5pm as part of the National Gardens Scheme.

Twenty-one gardens will be open, featuring a range of styles from small cottage gardens to formal designs.

This display includes the garden created by the late Sir Hardy Amies, who dressed Queen Elizabeth II for over 55 years.

Homemade teas will be served at two locations, and a plant stall and floral display can be found in the Grade I-listed late Saxon church, St. Matthews.

Admission to all gardens costs £10 per person, while children’s access is free.

Langford’s renowned pub, The Bell Inn, welcomes visitors for lunch.

The advice comes as warmer weather arrives and insect activity increases, raising the risk of uninvited guests around homes and gardens.

Residents are urged to take simple steps now to avoid bigger problems later in the summer.

Niall Gallagher, technical manager at the BPCA, said: “These two simple steps in spring can make a real difference in the summer.

“Deterring wasps and mosquitoes from settling down and breeding in your garden means you’re much less likely to have problems with them later in the summer.

“You can’t keep them out, but a few visitors are much less hassle than thousands of insects that have moved in for the season.”

The first tip is to check regularly for wasp nests, especially in sheds, garages, under eaves, and in other sheltered areas.

Early-stage nests are typically small, around the size of a golf ball, and can be removed before the colony expands.

Wasp nests left undisturbed can grow to house between 5,000 and 8,000 adult wasps by late August.

While wasps are valuable pollinators and natural pest controllers, a large nest close to living areas can become a serious hazard, as threatened wasps release pheromones that trigger a defensive stinging response from the entire colony.

The second tip focuses on reducing mosquito breeding sites by emptying out water butts, buckets, watering cans, and any other containers where stagnant water has collected.

These should also be cleaned where possible to remove overwintering mosquito eggs.

Mosquitoes lay eggs in still water, and removing these sites can prevent thousands of insects from emerging during warmer months.

Mr Gallagher said: “Of the native mosquito species in the UK, only a handful are connected to nuisance biting reports and generally, the only risk is a bite which is uncomfortable, itchy, and swollen, although occasionally people can have an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite which may need medical attention.”

He warned that changing climate conditions could increase the risk of non-native mosquito species becoming established in the UK, highlighting recent detections of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus eggs in England.

The BPCA also reminds residents that different stinging insects require different treatment options, and correct identification is key to safe removal.

Mistaking a wasp nest for a bee colony could put endangered bee species at risk if removed incorrectly.

Mr Gallagher said: “If there is any doubt at all, we highly recommend getting in touch with a BPCA member for advice.”