Average hourly wages in the hospitality industry are on track to hit £10.60 over the next five years, slightly ahead of the target of £10.50 by 2024 announced by the chancellor last week. Wages have consistently grown annually by 4% since the NLW was introduced in 2016. And although Sajid Javid also announced plans to lower the age threshold for qualification for the NLW from 25 to 21, the gap between the two has also diminished over the last three years and now sits at £8.70 and £8.55, respectively.