Increase to National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates 1st April
This is a reminder the new National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) increases are effective across the UK from today.
The National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over has risen by 50p to £12.71 per hour, representing a 4.1% increase. For a full-time worker (37.5 hours per week), this equates to an annual salary of approximately £24,784.50, an increase of around £900.
Those aged 18 to 20 receive an 85p rise, bringing their hourly rate to £10.85 (an 8.5% increase). Under-18s and apprentices see their hourly wage increase by 45p to £8.00, a 6% rise.
The UK government also has a longer-term aim to phase out the lower wage band for 18 to 20-year-olds, moving toward a single adult rate.
It is a legal requirement to pay these rates, and businesses must ensure full compliance. However, SGF recognises that above-inflation increases to the NLW and NMW place significant pressure on convenience retailers’ ability to maintain sustainable operations, and we will continue to highlight these concerns to policymakers.
More information can be found here: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates - GOV.UK
SGF has also published, in conjunction with the University of Stirling, its Real Business Cost of Employment Paper, which shows that the true cost to retailers when paying the NLW is £17.37 per hour.
Over the past decade, the real business cost of employment has almost doubled (£9.28 in 2016 to £17.37 in 2026). This evidence will underpin our engagement with government, policymakers and the Low Pay Commission on this issue.
Find out more by reading our press release and access the full document on our website here.