Marks & Spencer is increasing minimum pay by five per cent to £10 an hour in April and offering free health checks to workers.

The pay rise puts M&S workers just ahead of the new legal minimum wage of £9.50 an hour for those 23 and over, which comes into force in April, and is on a par with supermarkets including Sainsbury's.

From the beginning of April, over 40,000 staff members across the UK will see their base rate of pay increase by 50p an hour rising to £10.00 (from £9.50), along with rates in London rising to £11.25 (from £10.75).

In addition to its pay investment, M&S has enhanced its overall benefits package to better support colleague wellbeing and includes access to a Virtual GP service, health check screening and advice on financial management.