Notices to Employers of Apprentices – National Minimum Wage

The messages about the National Minimum Wage in this section are aimed at employers of apprentices.

We have included:

• 3 suggested social media posts
• a blog post
• some sample wage calculations

You can customize or personalize these messages for your own channels as needed.

Use this URL

The Check Your Pay campaign website brings together all the relevant information employers need.

These template social media posts feature the most important posts employers want to see.

In addition to the suggested text, we have made available some images for you:

We referenced which images would be appropriate for each post.

Message 1 – find out what rate you have to pay

Employers: Students aged 19 and over who have completed their first grade are entitled to the higher national minimum wage for their age group. Find out what rate your employees should be paid

https://checkyourpay.campaign.gov.uk/?utm_campaign=checkyourpay&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=stk-hmrc&utm_content=businesses#are_you_an_employer_

Pictures

Use the following images:

• for Instagram use the file: NMW-Employers-Message-1_Instagram.png
• for Facebook or LinkedIn use the file: NMW-Employers-Message-1_Facebook-LinkedIn.png

For reference, the text on the image reads: Do you pay your students the minimum wage of 4.30?

Message 2 – get the right minimum wage

Did you know that the National Minimum Wage student rate of 4.30 can only be paid when the apprenticeship has officially started? Make sure the minimum wage is right.

https://checkyourpay.campaign.gov.uk/?utm_campaign=checkyourpay&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=stk-hmrc&utm_content=businesses#are_you_an_employer_

Pictures

Use the following images:

• for Instagram use the file: NMW-Employers-Message-2_Instagram.png
• for Facebook or LinkedIn use the file: NMW-Employers-Message-2_Facebook-LinkedIn.png

For reference, the text on the image reads: Trainees employed at minimum wage? Find out what rate they have to pay

Message 3 – Get Help and Support

Employers of apprentices can get help and support to get the National Minimum Wage right. Find out more :

https://checkyourpay.campaign.gov.uk/?utm_campaign=checkyourpay&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=stk-hmrc&utm_content=businesses#are_you_an_employer_

Pictures

Use the following images:

• for Instagram use the file: NMW-Employers-Message-3_Instagram.png
• for Facebook or LinkedIn use the file: NMW-Employers-Message-3_Facebook-LinkedIn.png

For reference, the text on the image reads: Employers can get help from HMRC to make sure they get minimum wage right

blog post

As an employer of apprentices, you have a legal responsibility to ensure that you pay them at least the national minimum wage. Mistakes are easy to make, but help and advice is available to get it right.

When paying your students, make sure you don’t make the following common minimum wage mistakes:

• If a pupil is 19 years or older and has completed the first year of his apprenticeship, he is entitled to the higher minimum wage for his age group
• A student cannot receive the student rate of 4.30 until he has officially started his apprenticeship and not after it has ended
• All training time must be paid for whether at work, university or elsewhere – training can take place even outside normal working hours

Employers can get help and advice on paying the right minimum wage by:

Example wage calculations for employers

Employee A

Employee A is an 18-year-old student and works 32 hours a week.

Six of these hours are spent on university education. All training time is considered working time and must be paid. Since this employee is younger than 19, he is entitled to the apprenticeship wage of 4.30 per hour.

Employee B

Employee B is 21 and starts a two-year apprenticeship with an employer who works 32 hours a week.

This employee is entitled to the apprenticeship wage of 4.30 per hour in the first year and then to the higher minimum wage of 8.36 for the second year.

At the current rate, employee B is entitled to at least 137.60 per week during the first year and 267.52 per week during the second year.