B&Q introduces new £13.10 rule from April

B&Q has confirmed it will raise its UK minimum hourly rate to £13.10 from April 2026, while staff in London will see their pay increase to up to £14.44 per hour. The latest move will see more than 15,000 colleagues receive an additional 39p per hour.

For a full-time employee, this change represents an annual pay boost of more than £745.29. The retailer has committed to paying the increase in full from April 1 rather than staggering the rollout over the year, citing the essential role shopfloor teams play in driving customer experience and market growth.

While the Government’s legal minimum wage varies by age, B&Q operates as a multigenerational employer. The company maintains a policy of equal pay for equal work, meaning all colleagues aged 18 and over receive the same minimum hourly rate.

This includes apprentices, who are paid the same as other team members in equivalent roles.

The home improvement giant currently offers 40 different apprenticeship paths, with over 2,500 colleagues having either completed or currently working toward a qualification.

Graham Bell, CEO of B&Q, said: “We’re delighted to further recognise the exceptional value, commitment, and performance delivered by our colleagues every day.

"We pride ourselves on having one of the UK retail sector’s most competitive pay positions.

"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.”

Beyond the base rate, employees are eligible for enhanced family leave, an award-winning pension plan, and wellbeing support through the Retail Trust.

Staff also receive shopping discounts, including 20% off at B&Q, which increases to 30% for sustainable and energy-saving product ranges