which pip

[snippsat]

Neither pip seems to have been installed during the initial Mint install

Have to install it.

sudo apt install python3-pip

Test with:

pip3 -V
python3 -V
which python3

I think in Linux Mint 20.2(same as Ubuntu 21.04) there is no Python 2(have to install yourself to use it) only Python 3.8.5.
I use pyenv Simple Python Version Management,
then of course it dos matter what Distro has as Python/pip version as you control this yourself.

So here i use Linux Mint 19.1,if want Python 3.9.6 it take about 1-mintute to install and set as system wide version.

(miniforge3-4.10.1-3) tom@tom-VirtualBox:~$ pyenv install 3.9.6
Downloading Python-3.9.6.tar.xz...
-> https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.9.6/Python-3.9.6.tar.xz
Installing Python-3.9.6...
Installed Python-3.9.6 to /home/tom/.pyenv/versions/3.9.6

(miniforge3-4.10.1-3) tom@tom-VirtualBox:~$ pyenv global 3.9.6
tom@tom-VirtualBox:~$ python -V
Python 3.9.6
tom@tom-VirtualBox:~$ pip -V
pip 21.1.3 from /home/tom/.pyenv/versions/3.9.6/lib/python3.9/site-packages/pip (python 3.9)