Who pays apprentice wages?

Employers must also pay their apprentice for time spent training or studying for a relevant qualification, whether while at work or at a college or training organisation.

Employers must offer apprentices the same conditions as other employees working at similar grades or in similar roles. This includes: paid holidays, sick pay, any benefits you offer such as childcare voucher schemes, and any support you offer (such as coaching or mentoring).

Apprentices aged 18 must be paid the standard National Minimum Wage after 12 months of their programme.

The minimum that apprentices are entitled to depends on their age and length of time on a programme. Starting at £3.90 per hour, if they are under 19 or in their first year, in the second year this increases to £6.15 if you’re aged 18 to 20, £7.70 if you’re 21 to 24 and £8.21 if you’re over 25.

Apprentices and general workers must be at least school leaving age to get the National Minimum Wage, and aged 25 to get the National Living Wage - the minimum wage will still apply for workers aged 24 and under.