B&Q has announced a significant pay increase for its store employees, with the minimum hourly wage rising to £12.71 across the UK and up to £14.05 for workers in London. The updated wages will take effect from April 1, benefiting over 15,000 staff members.
This increase translates to an additional 50p per hour, equating to an annual boost of more than £955 for full-time employees. The home improvement retailer emphasized that the new pay scale is among the most competitive in the industry, exceeding both the UK Government’s planned 2025 National Living Wage of £12.21 per hour and the Real Living Wage of £12.60 per hour.
The revised rates apply to all employees aged 18 and over, including apprentices, ensuring equal pay for individuals performing the same roles.
Graham Bell, Chief Executive of B&Q, highlighted the company’s commitment to recognising and rewarding its workforce. “We believe rewarding our colleagues fairly is a critical part of delivering growth for our business and continually improving the experience we provide for our customers.
Bell also underscored the company’s investment in staff development, citing the success of its apprenticeship program, which has seen over 2,000 employees complete training. He summarised “These initiatives all contribute to our ambition to make B&Q a great place to work with a high-performance culture that delivers for our customers.“
