Community groups and youth employment charities have joined forces to urge Andy Burnham to make closing the pay gap between younger and older workers a top priority. The campaigners argue that the current system, in which apprentices can legally be paid a small fraction of the adult minimum wage, is a fundamental barrier to youth employment in Greater Manchester.
Under UK government rules, an apprentice aged under 19 is entitled to a minimum of £5.28 per hour. That compares with the National Living Wage of £11.44 for workers aged 21 and over. The Living Wage Foundation, which sets a voluntary 'real living wage' based on the cost of living, recommends £12.00 per hour nationwide. For a 35-hour week, the difference between the apprentice rate and the real living wage amounts to more than £230.
A question of fairness — and economics
The campaigners say that paying young people poorly is not just unfair but also counterproductive. They point out that many young people cannot afford to take up apprentice roles because the wages do not cover travel, accommodation, or even food in a region where the cost of living has risen sharply. As a result, some are forced to remain on benefits or stay in education longer than they would like, while employers struggle to fill entry-level vacancies.
According to the coalition, this situation creates a vicious cycle. Young people from less affluent backgrounds are disproportionately affected, because they are the least able to fall back on family support while training for a low initial salary. The campaign argues that action on pay would be one of the most effective ways to level the playing field and open up opportunities for all young residents of Greater Manchester.
The mayor's record and the campaign's demands
Andy Burnham has repeatedly stated his ambition to make Greater Manchester a living wage city. He introduced the GM Good Employment Charter in 2019, which encourages employers to commit to fair pay, secure work, and staff wellbeing. However, the campaigners argue that the charter is voluntary and does not include specific targets for youth pay. They are therefore calling on the Mayor to use his influence and statutory powers to go further.
The demands set out by the campaign include:
- A guarantee that all apprenticeships in Greater Manchester — particularly those in publicly funded roles — are paid at least the real living wage.
- The use of procurement and funding powers to make fair pay a condition of any contract awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
- A public commitment to phase out sub-minimum age-related wage rates in the region, starting with the apprentice rate.
- Better data collection on pay inequality by age so that progress can be measured.
In a message to the Mayor, the coalition said that warm words must now be turned into concrete action, and that no young person should be paid less for doing the same job simply because of their age.
The impact on the North West — and beyond
The issue is not confined to Greater Manchester. Across the UK, the apprentice minimum wage remains at £5.28 per hour, a level that has not kept pace with inflation. Trade unions and youth organisations have long argued that this creates a two-tier workforce and discourages young people from pursuing vocational routes. The apprenticeship rate is reviewed annually by the Low Pay Commission, which advises the government on minimum wage levels, yet campaigners say successive reviews have not brought it into line with adult rates.
The campaigners also point to the mental health impact of low pay, which can leave young people feeling undervalued and disheartened. They argue that addressing pay inequality would be a 'win-win' for the region: it would help employers recruit and retain young staff, while also reducing the demand on social security payments.
What happens next?
The coalition has said it will be watching the Mayor's budget for 2025/26 closely to see whether any new funding or policy measures address the pay gap. They have also called on the Mayor to initiate a public consultation with young workers to gather their views. Burnham, for his part, has frequently said that the voices of young people need to be heard. The campaign hopes that the growing public pressure will lead to a realignment of policies.
The campaigners have said they will continue to escalate their efforts until the Mayor takes concrete steps to ensure that young workers are paid fairly. They have invited Burnham to meet with young apprentices from across Greater Manchester to hear firsthand about the struggles they face on the current minimum wage.
