What can companies do to better look after their workers? What makes an ethical employer? And how can businesses do more to care for their communities?

These are all things we consider as we welcome Brett Mendell, Managing Director of Thomas Kneale & Co Ltd. Brett leads a company that pays the Real Living Wage, that is employee owned, and that takes its responsibilities to decent work and sustainability in all its forms seriously.

He tells us what it is like for a business to have purpose, people, planet and profit at the heart of their operations – recognising the need for profit while respecting their values and impact on those around them.

We find out what it takes to win the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development – even if we are no clearer on whether Brett makes the king’s bedsheets; why they are still pushing to do more; and what the benefits are for workers being part of an employee-owned company.

We uncover the differences between the Government’s Living Wage, and the Real Living Wage, and why Thomas Kneale and Brett see such value in the latter for themselves and their employees; find out how businesses and local government can work together to implement better employment practices; and consider the importance of combined efforts to eliminate modern slavery from supply chains.

Plus, is there a cotton controversy in the bedding industry? Are silk sheets reserved solely for the Playboy mansion? And whose bed(ding) are you sleeping in tonight?

Find out more about Thomas Kneale here: https://www.thomaskneale.co.uk/

And about employee-owned companies in the UK here: https://blog.shorts.uk.com/list-of-employee-owned-companies

This is the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter: https://www.gmgoodemploymentcharter.co.uk/