Appointment details

Low Pay Commission - Chair

Summary

• Organisation: Low Pay Commission
• Sponsor department: Department for Business and Trade
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Business and Trade
• Skills: Business, Regulation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 3 day(s) per month
• Remuneration: £550 per day
• Length of term: Three years
• Application deadline: 10am on 7 September 2026

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   16 July 2026

2. Application deadline

   10am on 7 September 2026

3. Sifting date

   11 September 2026

4. Interviews expected to end on

   1 October 2026

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is an independent body set up under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to advise the government on the National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW).  

The LPC consists of a chair and eight other commissioners drawn from a range of employee, employer and academic backgrounds. The LPC works according to a remit set by the Government each year, with a primary role of advising the Government on the levels of the NMW, including the NLW. Recommendations are based on extensive labour market analysis, pay data and consultation with employers, workers and their representatives, as well as commissioning research.   

For over 25 years the evidence to-date shows that the National Living Wage has given a pay rise to millions of workers without significantly impacting employment. The government estimates that this year’s National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increases will provide a direct pay increase to approximately 2.7 million workers – with a further 5.1 million workers potentially benefitting from positive spillover effects.  Fundamental to this has been the work of the LPC and its track record of balancing multiple factors when making wage recommendations. Whoever is appointed to the role will play a critical role in chairing the LPC.   

More information is available on the LPC website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/low-pay-commission  

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate,  

Thank you for your interest in the role of Chair for the Low Pay Commission, a role that will allow you to lead the strategic direction of the organisation. 

The Government has set the country on the path of national renewal, building a Britain for all on the firm foundations of security, respect and opportunity. That means creating an economy that delivers for working people and businesses alike: productive, profitable, and growing. Economic growth is a top priority.  

The Low Pay Commission is an advisory non-departmental public body which is sponsored and funded by the Department for Business and Trade. It plays a vital role in advising the Government on the rates at which the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage should be set, taking into account both employer and worker perspectives, and independent economic analysis. This advice helps determine the pay of over two and a half million workers in the UK. The Government may also call on the Low Pay Commission to provide advice on other issues within its scope.  

In launching this recruitment campaign, my ministerial colleagues and I are committed to fair and open recruitment processes. We would like to see applications from across the UK and from a wide range of diverse backgrounds. We are looking for the best and brightest and welcome applications from people of all walks of life who can drive this important agenda. This is a rewarding role that offers personal and professional challenges and opportunities if you have the experience, skills and drive we are looking for. 

Should you need any further assistance, my officials would be happy to talk to you about this role or other senior roles in the public sector.  

I trust you will find the information enclosed in this job pack of interest and we look forward to receiving your application. 

Yours sincerely,  

Peter Kyle,  

Secretary of State for Business and Trade 

Appointment description

The Chair will be responsible for:  

• Leading Low Pay Commissioners in their deliberations and negotiations, helping them reach consensus and ensuring the Commission provides sound and impartial advice to the Government.
• Representing the Commission at varying levels, including engagement with ministers, Parliament, employers, worker representatives and the wider public, and presenting evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees where required. 

This role is open to candidates based across the United Kingdom; there is no requirement to be London-based. 

The Chair will, however, be required to attend Commission meetings in person in London (Canary Wharf) approximately 8–10 times per year.

In addition, all Commissioners are expected to undertake at least two regional visits annually (typically two days in duration) during the spring and summer, and to attend the annual LPC residential retreat, usually held in the Autumn.

Board composition

The Low Pay Commission comprises a Chair and eight Commissioners drawn from employer, worker and academic backgrounds. Together, they provide independent, evidence-based advice to Government on the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage, informed by analysis, research and engagement with stakeholders across the UK. 

Please see here for further information about the board. 

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

1. An ability to analyse complex issues relating to the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage including financial and economic data, impacts on the workforce, businesses, competitiveness, market and wider economy, as well as practical or academic experience in UK labour market economics. 
2. An ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders. 
3. An ability to lead strategically in a high-profile environment. 
4. Effective communication skills and an ability to lead others and to build consensus. 
5. An understanding or appreciation of negotiations in a business or workplace environment. 

Application and selection process

About this appointment

Some public appointments are made by the Prime Minister, or the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Others are made by Secretaries of State or other ministers and are of interest to the Prime Minister.

Public appointments made by or of interest to the Prime Minister

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• Equality information
• Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV) - Maximum of two pages
• a supporting statement - Maximum of two pages

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

Please keep CVs to a maximum of two pages, and two pages for your supporting statement. Any subsequent pages will not be considered due to the volume of applications considered by the panel. It is helpful for both your CV and Supporting Statement to state your full name in the title.

AI must not be used to provide misleading information. While technology can be used in your application, for example to assist with structure, we value authenticity, and advisory assessment panels will use the interview stage to verify the originality of your statements.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. You will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Michael Warren – Departmental Official

Director of Employment Rights, Department for Business and Trade

Michael Warren has no political activity to declare.

Matthew Taylor – Public Body Representative

Chair of the Fair Work Agency

Matthew Taylor has no political activity to declare.

Anita Kimber – Independent Panel Member

Non-Executive Director at the Financial Conduct Authority (Senior Independent Panel Member)

Anita Kimber has no political activity to declare.

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);
• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;
• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this.
• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact dbtappointments@businessandtrade.gov.uk 

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability.

The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application.

By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. These are:

1. Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
3. Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
5. Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
6. Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.
7. Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of re-appointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years.

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the DBT public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at dbtappointments@businessandtrade.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

The Department for Business and Trade's privacy notice can be found at : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-appointments-privacy-notice

Contact details

An information webinar for prospective candidates will be held during the campaign. Further details will be shared in due course.

For a confidential discussion about this role, please contact:

Jennifer Keegan (Campaign Manager): dbtappointments@businessandtrade.gov.uk

DBT Appointments will respect the privacy of any initial approach or expression of interest in this role, whether formal or informal.