National Living Wage and Youth Unemployment Roundtable Recording
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce hosted an online roundtable discussion to gather real-world insight from employers on the impact of the National Living Wage, with a particular focus on employing young people aged 21 and under.
With recent changes to minimum wage levels and a government consultation open at the time, the session gave Kent and Medway businesses the opportunity to share honest, practical experiences and help ensure local employer voices were represented.
What the session focused on
This was a listening and evidence-gathering session rather than a briefing or training event. The discussion explored how recent wage changes were impacting businesses in practice, including:
- The impact of the April 2026 National Living Wage increase
- Knock-on effects on costs, pricing, staffing levels and investment decisions
- Experiences of employing young people under 21
- Views on aligning youth wage rates with the National Living Wage
- Apprenticeship recruitment, costs and future intentions
Who attended
The roundtable was open to businesses of all sizes and sectors, particularly those involved in setting pay, recruiting staff or planning their workforce, including:
- Business owners and directors
- HR leads and managers
- Operations and finance managers
- Anyone involved in hiring or pay decisions
Attendees did not need data, formal submissions or policy expertise. Practical examples and lived experience were exactly what was sought.
Why it mattered
Insights gathered during the discussion helped inform the Chamber’s response to the national consultation, ensuring that the experiences of Kent and Medway employers, especially SMEs, were reflected at a national level.
