The government will increase the national minimum wage by 1.9% effective 1 October, the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) has announced.

The adult minimum wage (for those aged 21 and above) rises by 12p to £6.31 per hour.

The rates for 18-20-year-olds and 16-17-year-olds respectively rise by 5p to £5.03 an hour, and by 4p to £3.72 an hour.

An extra 3p is added to the apprentice rate, making it £2.68 an hour.

Last October saw a similar rise for adults, with apprentices also benefitting, although those aged 16-20 were left out.

Any BIS decisions on the national minimum wage are informed by reports from the Low Pay Commission (LPC), which was established as an independent body as a result of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998.