Risley joins Low Pay Commission

Whitbread's human resources director, Angie Risley, has been appointed to the Low Pay Commission, which meets twice a month to monitor the impact of the minimum wage.

Risley said it had been hard for many smaller businesses to keep up with the minimum wage and said she would make sure plenty of notice was given before the next increase.

The commission next reports its findings to Tony Blair and trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt in February 2003. Among other things, it is looking into the practice of using tips to raise workers' pay to the legal minimum.

Risley is the sole employer on the commission. The other 11 members are academics and trade union directors. Risley has replaced Stephanie Monk, formerly director of human resources at Granada, on the commission.