From April 2026, the National Minimum Wage for apprentices in England is set to rise once again, bringing good news for young people looking to earn while they learn.
Whether you’re already an apprentice or considering an apprenticeship after school or college, this increase means more money in your pocket each month, helping you cover travel, lunch, and day-to-day living costs.
National Minimum Wage
If you are under 19 or in the first year of your apprenticeship, you will be paid the national minimum wage for apprentices. However, if you are 19+ and in the second year of your apprenticeship, you’ll be paid the minimum wage for your age group.
National Minimum Wage for Apprentices
National Minimum Wage for apprentices will increase in April 2026 from £7.55 to £8.00 per hour. This is a 6% increase for apprentices, and much needed.
This £0.45 increase applies to apprentices aged 16-17 years old, as well as those who are in the first year of their apprenticeship. After the first year of an apprenticeship, apprentices are paid according to their age.
This is the bare minimum that an employer should be paying you as an apprentice, and many employers actually pay more than this!
Check the image and examples below to see how much you should be earning from April 2026.
Example 1
You were 17 when you started your apprenticeship and are currently paid £7.55 an hour. From April 2026, once you enter the 2nd year of your apprenticeship AND have turned 18 you will be paid £10.85 an hour.
Example 2
You were 25 when you started your apprenticeship. In your first year, and are currently paid £7.55 an hour. From April 2026, if you are in the 2nd year of your apprenticeship, you will be paid £12.71 an hour in line with the national minimum wage.
Start Your Apprenticeship Journey
If you are interested in an apprenticeship, why not come and train with us? We have loads of apprenticeships ready to start, and can even deliver them at your current place of employment.
We offer courses to young people and adults alike. It’s never too late to start an apprenticeship!
Why Choose an Apprenticeship?
Earn while you learn – Start getting paid from day one
Gain hands-on experience – Learn practical skills on the job
No student debt – Your training is fully funded
Step into a real career – Apprenticeships lead to full-time work
Apprenticeship Bursary available – for current or
Whether you’re finishing Year 11, leaving college, currently NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), or want to switch careers, now’s the perfect time to apply for an apprenticeship.
Click on any of the links below to find out more about the paid apprenticeships you can take with us.
You can view some of our apprenticeship vacancies by heading over to our apprenticeship vacancy page here.
Or give us a call today on 0800 783 2901 to find out about your options.
All of our apprenticeships and courses are only open to UK residents.
We look forward to hearing from you!
