The BRC has submitted its annual submission to the LPC, following representations from across membership. This will be followed by an oral evidence session to the Commission later this month. Following this sector engagement the LPC will present its recommendations to the Government on what it believes the future change to the National Minimum Wages rates should be for April 2021.

Acknowledging that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges for retail, an unprecedented trading environment and an uncertain economic outlook, the retail industry would like to see the LPC adopt a cautious approach to setting the increase in the NLW for the coming year. The BRC continues to support the Government’s ambition to end low pay, but believes that current conditions necessitate a more moderate approach than might otherwise have been considered. The BRC also urged the Government to give careful consideration to the future flightpath to ensure that it is sustainable for all businesses.