National Minimum Wage increases announced

At a glance

• The government has announced the rates of the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) which will come into force from April 2026.
• The NLW, which applies to workers aged 21 and over, will increase from GBP12.21 to GBP12.71 per hour.

• From April 2026 the new hourly rates of NMW will be:

  • Workers aged 21+ - GBP12.71.
  • Workers aged 18-20 – GBP10.85.
  • Workers aged 16–17 – GBP8.00.
  • Apprentices – GBP8.00.