Increase to minimum Apprenticeships earning
Minimum weekly earnings for all apprentices in England will increase from £80 to £95 beginning August 2009. This increase follows last year's review of apprentice pay by (then) DIUS and DCSF. The Government aims to ensure that apprentice earnings are fair and should reflect the support that is given to young people pursuing other qualifications.
The new £95 minimum is being considered by the Low Pay Commission and is expected to start from August 2009. This will benefit an estimated 26,000 apprentices (about 10 percent), mostly those in traditional, less well paid sectors such as hairdressing and social care - of whome 90 percent are women.