The Low Pay Commission is touring the UK in 2026 to gather real-world feedback from employers and workers on the impact of minimum wage rates. Businesses can share evidence in person or in writing to help shape future government wage policy.

 
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The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is travelling across the UK throughout 2026 to hear directly from employers and workers about the realworld impact of the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.

These regional visits are a major opportunity for members to share experiences, challenges and insights that will help shape future wage recommendations to Government.

Your voice matters because the LPC uses firsthand evidence from businesses like yours to understand:

  • How rising wage rates are affecting staffing, prices and investment
  • Local labour market pressures
  • The economic outlook in your area
  • Your views on future minimum wage rates


All evidence is treated confidentially and anonymised unless you give permission otherwise.

By taking part, members can help ensure the unique pressures faced by small and independent retailers are fully recognised in future policy decisions.


Regional visit dates & locations for 2026

The LPC will be meeting employers and workers at the following locations: 

  • Bradford – 18 & 19 March 
  • Aberdeen – 15 & 16 April 
  • Blackpool – 13 & 14 May 
  • Peterborough – 10 & 11 June 
  • Wrexham – 1 & 2 July 
  • Derry – 29 & 30 July


If you’d like to attend one of the sessions, please contact the LPC directly:

Joseph.Wilkinson@lowpay.gov.uk 
Duncan.Michie@lowpay.gov.uk 
07720 166271

When you get in touch, include:

  • Your preferred location and date
  • Whether you are an employer, worker, or representative
  • A brief outline of the issues you would like to discuss
  • To make the most of your session, consider taking:
  • Examples of how wage increases have affected your business
  • Any changes to staffing, pricing or investment decisions
  • Local recruitment or retention challenges
  • Your perspective on proposed 2026 wage rates
  • Any sectorspecific evidence you feel the LPC should hear


Even short, practical examples from daytoday trading can be extremely valuable.

If you cannot attend in person, you can still contribute by submitting written evidence via email to the contacts above. Every submission helps strengthen the case for independent retail.


Let Bira know you are taking part

If you plan to attend or submit evidence, please also inform us at policy@bira.co.uk. This helps Bira identify shared themes across members and reinforce them at a national level in our own policy work.

For further details see the Government guidance below.

Government guidance on LPC visits
 

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