The John Lewis Partnership has announced that 65,000 employees will see pay rise this year, or 99 per cent of all workers at the company.

The pay increase represents an investment of £114 million this year and follows an investment of £116 million last year.

From 1 April, the minimum rate of pay for employees outside London will increase from £11.55 to £12.40 an hour and from £12.89 to £13.85 for employees within the M25.

Rates of pay increase to £13.39 per hour for those workers who gain enhanced skills and take on specialist roles the company’s stores, rising to £14.96 inside the M25.

Pay will rise on average by 7.4 per cent this year and John Lewis said that those who make an “exceptional” contribution to the partnership will receive an additional two per cent.

The company said that 77 per cent or £88 million of the pay investment is voluntary and is beyond the requirements of the National Minimum Wage.

Over the past three years the partnership says it has invested a total of £295 million in employee pay, while the standard hourly rate for workers in its shops has risen by 25 per cent.

“Our Partners are co-owners of our business and their service to our customers is what sets us apart, so we have chosen to make another very significant investment in Partner pay this year,” said Jo Rackham, interim executive director, people. “This signals our continued commitment to our Partners’ pay, taking our total investment over the last three years to £295 million.”

The move follows announcements last week from Marks & Spencer, B&Q and Co-op who said that they would increase pay for their employees above the National Living Wage.

Last month, supermarket chain Aldi also shared that it would give in-store colleagues a pay rise, claiming that it would pay the highest rates in the sector.

---