Almost 2,000 employees at the University of Oxford will get a pay rise as the university signs up to pay the Oxford Living Wage.

The university is the largest employer to sign up to the scheme, and staff will see their wages go up to at least £10.21 per hour as they move on to the new minimum hourly pay from August 1.

In 2009 Oxford City Council introduced an Oxford Living Wage, set at 95 per cent of the Living Wage Foundation’s London Living Wage, in recognition of the high cost of living in Oxford.

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It takes into account high rents, property prices and cost of travel for those living in and travelling to work in the city.

Employees set to benefit include office staff, library assistants, museum staff, security staff, invigilators, technicians, secretarial and personal assistants and retail workers.

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of the City Council, said: "This is a huge commitment from one of the city’s biggest and best known employers, and will have a positive impact on hundreds of people they employ.

The university's colleges are independent employers and will make their own decisions about the OLW, but discussions are ongoing.