How Much is the New Minimum Wage in Yorkshire? April 2025 Pay Rise Explained

If you're living or working in Yorkshire and the Humber and earning the minimum wage, there's some good news. As of 1 April 2025, hundreds of thousands of workers in the region are getting a boost to their pay packets. And we’re not talking pennies. A full-time worker on the new National Living Wage could end up with an extra £1,400 a year. That’s enough to cover a couple of big bills—or a well-earned holiday.

For anyone juggling rent, food shops, or just trying to keep the lights on, this pay rise couldn’t come soon enough.

What's changing with the minimum wage?

So here's the deal. Every year, the government looks at what the minimum wage should be. This year, they’ve gone bigger—especially for younger workers and apprentices. From 1 April 2025, the new rates kick in, and they’re the highest jumps we’ve seen in a while.

Let’s break it down:

• Over 21s (National Living Wage): Up from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour
• 18 to 20 year olds: Up from £8.60 to £10 per hour
• Under 18s: Now £7.55 per hour, up 18%
• Apprentices: Also getting £7.55, up from £6.40
• Accommodation offset: £10.66 per day

That’s a 6.7% rise for those over 21, and for younger people, it’s even bigger. The idea is to close the gap and help everyone keep up with the rising cost of, well, everything.

Why this matters more than ever

With prices going up—whether it’s your gas bill, your food shop, or the cost of a pint—wages need to keep up. That’s exactly what this rise is trying to do. It’s not just about fairness, it’s about helping people cope.

The government says this increase will help up to 340,000 workers in Yorkshire and the Humber alone. And it’s not just those on the legal minimum wage. Sometimes, when the base pay rises, others just above that level get a bump too. So the benefits might reach even more people.

It’s all part of a wider push called the Plan to Make Work Pay, which—despite sounding a bit like a slogan—aims to make sure work actually covers the cost of living.

What the government’s saying

Justin Madders, the Employment Rights Minister, made a point to say:

“Hard work deserves to be rewarded and this Government’s Plan to Make Work Pay is making that a reality. We’re raising the floor for workers from Bradford to Beverley, putting more money into their pockets and delivering the increased living standards needed to kickstart economic growth across Yorkshire and the Humber.”

So yeah, the message is pretty clear—they want this to be seen as a big step for workers in the region.

What else is being promised?

There’s also something called the Employment Rights Bill, which could mean another £600 a year for some of the lowest-paid workers. That could come from tweaks to how pay is calculated or extra protections. The details are still unfolding, but the overall goal is more money, better stability, and a higher quality of life.

And for the first time, the folks who recommend the wage levels—the Low Pay Commission—were told to include the actual cost of living and inflation in their recommendations. Which honestly feels long overdue.

Here’s what to do next

If you’re not sure whether you’re getting the right pay, don’t just assume it’s fine. Employers are legally required to pay at least the new minimums. If they’re not, that’s a problem—and it can be fixed.

Here’s what you can do:

• Check your payslip and hourly rate
• Visit gov.uk/checkyourpay to see if you’re getting the right wage
• If something feels off, talk to your employer
• Still stuck? Call Acas on 0300 123 1122 or report it to HMRC (link here)