National minimum wage changes from 1st April
Last month, the Government released its latest ‘name and shame’ list of employers who failed to pay national minimum wage to their workers. On the list were high profile names including Costa, Bupa, and Hovis. This potentially reputationally damaging naming and shaming process sits alongside fines of up to 200% of the value of the underpayment. Paying national minimum wage incorrectly can be costly in more ways than one.
Employers can inadvertently end up paying the wrong rate of national minimum wage if they fail to correctly apply the annual increase which takes effect from 1st April each year, or if they fail to realise that an employee has moved into an older age category.
Employers should check their payroll provision to make sure systems reflect the new figures for national minimum wage which took effect from 1st April 2026:
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| Aged 21 and above | £12.71 |
| Aged 18-20 | £10.85 |
| Aged under 18 (but above compulsory school leaving age) | £8.00 |
| Apprentices aged under 19 | £8.00 |
| Apprentices aged 19 or over but in the first year of their apprenticeship | £8.00 |
These amounts set out the minimum wages payable. They may be replaced by higher payments if the employer chooses to offer more voluntarily or is required to do so under the employee’s contract.