Apprentices get just 2% rise

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for apprentices will rise by 2% from October to £2.73 an hour.

The apprentice rate covers workers aged under 19 or those in the first year of level 2 or 3 apprenticeships. Other apprentices are entitled to the NMW for their age.

The increase was recommended by the Low Pay Commission and has been welcomed by many employers. However, the National Union of Students (NUS) has said the rise was not enough to persuade more young people to take on an apprenticeship.

NUS vice-president Joe Vinson said the new rate was still “shockingly low” and that the government should recognise that “forcing young people to choose between this paltry wage and the prospect of full-time employment at the minimum wage is bound to put people off”.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/low-pay-commission

http://feweek.co.uk/2014/03/13/apprentice-wage-rise-gets-mixed-welcome