BIRA chief Andrew Goodacre appointed Low Pay Commissioner

Baroness Philippa Stroud has on Tuesday been announced as the chair of the Low Pay Commission (LPC).

She replaces Bryan Sanderson, who has been chair of the LPC since 2019.

CWU veteran Nigel Cotgrove and BIRA chief executive Andrew Goodacre have also been announced as commissioners.

The LPC is an independent body that advises the government about the National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage.

“Baroness Philippa Stroud is a fantastic appointment to this role. Her extensive leadership background and specialised experience in social justice will ensure the LPC continues its vital work on pay for our lowest paid workers,” business minister Kevin Hollinrake said.

“I’m grateful to Bryan Sanderson for all his hard work in his time as chair and wish him well for the future.

“I’d also like to welcome Nigel Cotgrove and Andrew Goodacre in their roles as commissioners.”

Baroness Philippa Stroud is a British think tanker and the co-founder of Forum. She is the chief executive of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship and chair of the Social Metrics Commission. Prior to this, she was the chief executive of the Legatum Institute and co-founder and chief executive of the Centre for Social Justice. 

She was created a life peer on 1 October 2015.  

Nigel Cotgrove is a trustee director of the BT Pension Scheme and a member of the Prison Service Pay Review Body.

Cotgrove worked for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) for 31 years. He served as a national officer for over 20 years representing workers in the telecoms, ICT and financial services sectors. Prior to that, he worked as a CWU research officer.

BIRA (British Independent Retailers Association) chief executive Andrew Goodacre has devoted his career to strengthening Britain’s high streets and the communities they support.

Since taking over BIRA’s leadership in 2018, Goodacre has expanded membership by nearly a third, by ensuring the needs of independent retailers are heard by government decision makers.

He represents BIRA on the Department of Business Retail Sector Council and serves as a member of the British Retail Consortium’s policy board and the Welsh Retail Council.

Prior to leading BIRA, Goodacre spent many years in the hospitality industry, which helped to reinforce his belief of the importance of local high streets to the fabric of local communities and their contribution to the government’s levelling-up agenda.