Brent Council has remodelled its payment system for apprentices after it emerged those on the lowest scale were being paid more than those on the one above it.

Its general purposes committee confirmed apprentices’ wages for the two lowest pay grades – level 2 and level 3 – would be brought together to address this.

It comes after an “anomaly” in the council’s system meant those on level 3 did not see their pay rise in line with national living wage rates.

As a result, their income was fixed at £8.01 per hour from October 2017, while those on level 2 saw their rate jump from £7.50 per hour at this time to £8.72 per hour by April 2020.

The council also confirmed level 3 apprentices would see their pay backdated to April at the new rate.

These changes are expected to cost the council almost £40,000, which it says can be contained within existing budgets.

A council report stated: “These new rates of pay will be easier to track in the coming years and will keep us competitive with other boroughs and private sector employers.”

It added that, according to the most recent survey on apprentice pay in London, these rates are among the top half across all boroughs.

Level 2 roles include customer service and facilities management positions, while those in level 3 could be surveying technicians or junior energy managers, for example.

Places are offered at higher pay grades, with those on level 4, 5 or 6 schemes receiving the London Living Wage of £10.75 per hour.

Roles at these levels include data analyst, software developer, and chartered legal executive.

There is also the possibility of securing a level 7 position at the council – currently accountancy taxation professional and senior leader are available – which pays £15.49 per hour, or £29,000 a year.

Cllr Margaret McLennan, deputy leader of Brent Council, said: “The level of our apprenticeships has always been very high, not only in terms of numbers but also their quality.”