National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates are due to increase from April 2022. Employers please ensure all apprentice wages are increased in line with the updated rates as below.
The hourly rate for National Minimum Wage depends on the age of the employee and whether they are an apprentice or not.
To qualify for the National Minimum Wage an employee must be of school leaving age. To qualify for the National Living Wage, employees must be at least 25. Those aged 24 and under will qualify for the minimum wage.
National minimum wage increases are applied at a minimum once each year usually in April.
Apprentices
Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they are either:
- aged under 19
- aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship
Rates
| 23 and over | 21 to 22 | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | Apprentice | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2021 (current rate) | £8.91 | £8.36 | £6.56 | £4.62 | £4.30 |
| April 2022 | £9.50 | £9.18 | £6.83 | £4.81 | £4.81 |
