National Minimum Wage: new rates from 1 April 2018
In the biggest rise in National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates for those under 25 for a decade, new rates apply from 1 April 2018.
18-20 and 21-24 year-olds see increases of 4.7% and 5.4% respectively. There is also a 4.4% increase in the National Living Wage (NLW) for those aged 25 and over.
NMW and NLW vary depending on age and whether or not a worker is an apprentice.
| Rate from 1 April 2018 | |
| NLW for workers aged 25 and over | £7.83 |
| the main rate for workers aged 21-24 | £7.38 |
| the 18-20 rate | £5.90 |
| the 16-17 rate for workers above school leaving age but under 18 | £4.20 |
| the apprentice rate * | £3.70 |
*for apprentices under 19, or 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship
There are no exemptions from paying NMW on the grounds of the size of the business.