Apprentice Minimum Wage

All apprentices must be paid at least the applicable National Minimum Wage.

From 1 April 2026, the apprentice rate is £8.00 per hour and applies to:

Apprentices aged under 19

Apprentices aged 19 or over who are in the first year of their apprenticeship

Apprentices aged 19 or over who have completed the first year of their apprenticeship must receive at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate applicable to their age.

Minimum Wage Rates from April 2026

These rates are for the National Living Wage (for those aged 21 and over) and the National Minimum Wage (for those of at least school leaving age). The rates change on 1st April every year.

	21 and over	18 to 20	Under 18	Apprentice
April 2026	£12.71	£10.85	£8.00	£8.00

Examples:

A 21-year-old apprentice in the first year of their apprenticeship must be paid at least £8.00 per hour.

A 21-year-old apprentice who has completed their first year must be paid at least £12.71 per hour.

Many employers choose to pay above the minimum rates to attract and retain talent.

National Insurance Relief

Employers do not pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions for eligible apprentices where:

The apprentice is under 25 years old.

They are employed on an approved apprenticeship programme.

Their earnings are below the relevant earnings threshold.

This can deliver a significant saving when recruiting young apprentices.

Colchester Institute Responds to Government Withdrawal of Management and Leadership Apprenticeship Funding

“The Government’s decision to defund management and leadership apprenticeship standards from September 2026 represents a significant change for employers and providers across the sector. At Colchester Institute, our commitment remains to support employers and apprentices through a smooth transition, ensuring continuity for existing learners while shaping new, high‑quality pathways for future leadership development. We will work in partnership with our employers to co‑design practical alternatives that continue to strengthen workforce capability and build organisational resilience.” – Ashley Gallagher, Head of Professional Apprenticeships and Skills at Colchester Institute

The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that funding for certain management and leadership apprenticeship standards will be withdrawn from 1 September 2026.

The affected standards currently delivered by Colchester Institute include:

Team Leader/Supervisor (Level 3)
Operations/Departmental Manager (Level 5)
Coaching Professional (Level 5)
Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (Level 6)

In addition, the DfE has announced a national cap is being placed on new apprenticeship starts, limiting the number of new enrolments permitted across the sector between now and August 2026.

Please note, existing apprentices are unaffected and will continue their studies as planned.

We recognise how important these programmes are for developing leadership and management capability within organisations. We remain committed to:

Safeguarding the progress of existing apprentices.
Managing remaining start opportunities responsibly and in line with national guidance.
Working collaboratively with employers to design a new, high‑quality alternative curriculum offer that supports continuing leadership and skills development beyond 2026.

A consultation process with employers will launch shortly. This will inform our future leadership and management training provision, including both apprenticeship and non‑apprenticeship options. We welcome input from a range of stakeholders, and should you wish to contribute to shaping the future of our management offer, please reach out to employers@colchester.ac.uk help shape the conversation.

Further national and local updates will be provided here as soon as new guidance becomes available.