Our offices will be closed on Wednesday 29th April for a firm‑wide staff training day. Telephone lines will remain open; emails will be responded to from Thursday 30th April.

Thank you for your understanding.

Proud to be celebrating 170 years in business

  • Home
  • News

National Minimum Wage Rates for 2026 Announced

The government has announced the rates of the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) which will take effect from 1 April 2026. In announcing these increases, the government has accepted in full the recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission.

The new rates are as follows:

  • The NLW, which applies to those aged 21 and over, will increase from £12.21 to £12.71 per hour;
  • The NMW for 18- to 20-year-olds will increase from £10.00 to £10.85 per hour;
  • The NMW for 16- and 17-year-olds will increase from £7.55 to £8.00 per hour; and
  • The apprentice rate of the NMW, which applies to apprentices aged under 19 or those aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship, will increase from £7.55 to £8.00 per hour.

The accommodation offset will increase from £10.66 to £11.10 per day for each day during the pay period that accommodation is provided.

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.