Huddersfield University has been shortlisted for an award recognising its role as a “living wage” employer.

The university is among the finalists in the Living Wage Champion Awards 2014 run by the Living Wage Foundation. The winners will be announced during Living Wage Week, which runs from November 2 to 8.

The awards recognise employers that have made great contributions to communities and industries by implementing and celebrating the Living Wage.

The foundation offers a recognition mark for employers that commit to paying the Living Wage. There are now more than 900 accredited employers.

The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. It is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the “Minimum Income Standard” for the UK.

Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public – it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.

Julie McClelland, the university’s director of human resources, said: “We pride ourselves on not just being a good employer, but being the employer of choice in our region.

“Being accredited means we have a public commitment to good employment practice, with scrutiny as to whether we live up to our statements.”

Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Foundation Director Rhys Moore said: “I would like to send huge congratulations to the University of Huddersfield on being shortlisted for the Living Wage Champion Awards.

“The commitment to responsible pay by Living Wage employers makes a real difference to families and communities across the country.

“We look forward to celebrating this even further when announcing the winners of the awards during Living Wage Week.”