The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has confirmed its UK‑wide programme of regional visits for 2026, offering businesses across Shropshire and the wider West Midlands a valuable opportunity to contribute evidence on how the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are impacting real workplaces. These insights will directly shape the LPC’s recommendations to government later this year.

As the voice of the Shropshire business community, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce is urging local employers, particularly those in retail, hospitality, care, manufacturing, agri-food and other labour‑intensive sectors, to take part.

Why These Visits Matter

The LPC is the independent body responsible for advising the UK Government on minimum wage rates. Its decisions influence employment costs, business competitiveness, and wage growth across all sectors. To strike the right balance, commissioners rely heavily on first-hand evidence from employers and employees.

During these visits, the LPC wants to hear about:

  • The local economy and labour market
  • The outlook for pay and employment in your organisation
  • How increases to the NMW and NLW are affecting your operations
  • Your views on future minimum wage levels

This is a crucial chance for Shropshire businesses to have their voices heard, ensuring that forthcoming wage recommendations reflect real-world pressures and opportunities.

2026 LPC Visit Schedule

The LPC will meet with employers and workers at six locations across the UK between March and July 2026:

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

While none of these events take place directly in Shropshire, they remain open to all UK businesses, and Chamber members are strongly encouraged to share input, whether by attending in person or arranging virtual contributions.

How Your Evidence Is Used

The LPC gathers evidence throughout the year, and testimonies collected during these visits will inform discussions when commissioners negotiate wage recommendations in autumn 2026. All shared insights are treated in confidence and anonymised where appropriate, with nothing attributed to individuals without permission.

This ensures employers can speak openly about business challenges such as recruitment, retention, rising overheads, or economic uncertainty.

A Call to Shropshire Employers

Shropshire Chamber believes it is vital that our region’s businesses are represented in this national conversation. Whether you are a small independent business, a growing mid‑sized firm, or a large employer, your experiences help shape wage policy that affects us all.

Your insights matter, and the LPC has made clear that it wants to hear them directly.

How to Take Part

If you would like to attend one of the regional visits or provide evidence, you can contact:

Joseph Wilkinson, LPC Head of Policy:

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The LPC also accepts written evidence and can arrange discussions online if travel is not possible.