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The National Minimum Wage messages in this section are aimed at apprentices.

We have included:

• 3 suggested social media posts
• a blog post
• a short myth buster which you might like to use in your newsletters, on your website or on any other suitable channels

You can adapt or personalise these messages as necessary for your own channels.

Use this URL

The 鈥楥heck Your Pay鈥� campaign website brings together all the relevant information apprentices need to know.

Social media messages

These template social media posts contain the key messages that we want apprentices to see.

As well as proposed text, we have provided some images for you to use:

We have referenced which images would be suitable for each message.

Message 1 - understand and report

Last year over 155,000 workers received National Minimum Wage back pay. Apprentices, here鈥檚 what you need to do:

• Make sure you understand what you鈥檙e entitled to
• Report any underpayments

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

Images

Use the following images:

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

For reference, the text on the image reads: 鈥楻eport minimum wage underpayment to HMRC and get back what you鈥檙e owed鈥�

Message 2 - report an underpayment

Apprentices who think they鈥檙e not paid the correct National Minimum Wage can report underpayment to HMRC. Reporting is simple and can be done online Find out more

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

Images

Use the following images:

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

For reference, the text on the image reads: 鈥楢pprentices: report minimum wage underpayment. It takes less than 5 minutes鈥�

Message 3 - first year of apprenticeship

Are you an apprentice aged 19 and over on the National Minimum Wage? After completing your first year of apprenticeship you are entitled to be paid more than the 拢4.30 apprentice rate. For more information:

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

Images

Use the following images:

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

For reference, the text on the image reads: 鈥楢re you an apprentice? Find out which minimum wage rate you should be paid鈥�

Blog post

As an apprentice you are entitled to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. Make sure you know how much you should be paid and what you can do if you think you鈥檙e underpaid.

Watch out for the following common mistakes which can lead to minimum wage underpayment:

• If you鈥檙e aged 19 and over and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship you are entitled to the higher minimum wage rate for your age group, not just the 拢4.30 apprentice rate
• You should only be paid the apprentice rate of 拢4.30 once you have officially started your apprenticeship and not after it ends
• You must be paid for all training time no matter whether this training takes place at work, college or elsewhere

If you think you haven鈥檛 been paid correctly, you can report this to HMRC. Reporting is simple, can be made anonymously or even on behalf of someone else: www.gov.uk/minimum-wage-complaint

If you would prefer to talk your situation through with someone on the phone first, you can call the Acas Helpline on 0300 123 1100.鈥� You do not have to give your name if you don鈥檛 want to.

Make sure you get the money you鈥檙e owed. Find out more, including the higher minimum wage rates for the different age groups, on the .

Myth buster for apprentices

Myth: Training time doesn鈥檛 count as working time.
Truth: All training time counts as working time for minimum wage purposes and must be paid at least the minimum wage rate.

Myth: All apprentices should be paid the 拢4.30 apprentice rate.
Truth: If you鈥檙e an apprentice aged 19 and over and have completed your first year you should get at least 拢6.56 per hour, if not more depending on your age.

Myth: If you鈥檙e paid the correct minimum wage rate you don鈥檛 need to worry about National Minimum Wage underpayment.
Truth: You may be surprised that you could still be underpaid if you鈥檙e not paid for all the time you worked, or if your employer is making wage deductions.

Myth: Reporting underpayment to HMRC is too difficult and not worth your time.
Truth: Reporting can be done online and takes less than 5 minutes. From April 2020 to March 2021 workers received over 拢16.7m in back pay.

Myth: It鈥檚 ok for your employer to pay you the 拢4.30 apprentice rate before or after your apprenticeship starts/ends.
Truth: If you haven鈥檛 started your apprenticeship, you are legally entitled to receive the higher minimum wage rate for your age group. You can check the rates on the