Rate of record
Apprentice minimum wage: £8.00 from 1 April 2026
The apprentice rate covers two groups: any apprentice under 19, and apprentices aged 19+ in their first 12 months. From 1 April 2026 it is £8.00/hr - the same cash rate as the 16-17 band for the first time.
Apprentice
under 19 or yr 1The rate, in numbers
- £8.00 per hour, effective 1 April 2026gov.uk
- £240.00 per 30-hour week (typical apprenticeship)
- Same cash rate as 16-17 band in 2026/27
The 12-month rule
The apprentice rate applies to any apprentice aged under 19, and to apprentices aged 19+ during their first 12 months on the apprenticeship. After both conditions have ceased to apply - the apprentice is 19 or over AND past 12 months - they step up to the relevant age-band rate from the next pay reference periodgov.uk.
Off-the-job training is paid time
The apprenticeship funding rules require at least 6 hours per week off-the-job training, which must be paid at the apprentice rate (or higher). Time at college, day-release, shadowing and assessment all countgov.uk.
The year-2 cliff
A 19-year-old apprentice in year 2 who graduates the apprentice rate steps up to either the 18-20 rate (£10.85) at age 19-20 or the NLW (£12.71) at 21+. The pay-period jump can be material; payroll software should auto-recalculate from the next reference period.