Teens can now get work permit at 16 under new government scheme

If you want to employ a child you may need to obtain a work permit for that child from the local authority where your business is based.

A child includes any person who has not yet reached compulsory school leaving age.

It’s illegal to employ children under the age of 13 unless they are taking part in a paid performance (eg a play or film), sport or modelling and you have obtained a child performance licence from the relevant local authority.

Permitted work for children

Children aged 13 years or more are allowed to be employed in light work in one or more of the following categories:

• delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material
• domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation
• car washing (by hand in a private residential setting)
• in a cafe or restaurant
• shop work
• hairdressing salons
• office work
• in riding stables.

Prohibited employment

No child of any age may be employed:

• in a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club (except in connection with a performance given entirely by children or under the terms and conditions of a performance licence)
• to sell or deliver alcohol, except in sealed containers
• to deliver milk
• to deliver fuel oils
• in a commercial kitchen
• to collect or sort refuse
• in any work which is more than 3 metres above ground or internal floor level
• in employment involving harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents
• to collect money or to sell or canvass door to door
• in work involving exposure to adult material
• in telephone sales
• in any slaughterhouse or in any part of a butcher’s shop or other premises connected with the killing of livestock, butchery, or the preparation of meat for sale
• as an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement arcade or in any other premises used for the purpose of public amusement by means of automatic machines, games of chance or skill or similar devices
• in the personal care of residents of any residential care home or nursing home.

Hours children can work

Employment may only take place between 7am and 7pm.

Children aged 13 and 14 years can work for:

• 2 hours on Sundays
• 2 hours on school days (either one hour before and one hour after school, or two hours after school)
• 5 hours on Saturdays
• a maximum of 12 hours per week during term time
• 5 hours daily during school holidays but not to exceed 25 hours per week.

Children aged 15 years until they are no longer of compulsory school age can work for:

• 2 hours on Sundays
• 2 hours on school days (either one hour before and one hour after school, or two hours after school)
• 8 hours on Saturdays
• a maximum 12 hours per week during term time
• 8 hours daily during school holidays but not to exceed 35 hours per week.

Any child employed must have a rest break of at least one hour following 4 hours of continuous employment. During the year they must have at least two consecutive weeks in the school holidays which are free from work.

A young person is of compulsory school age until the last Friday in June in the school year in which they reach the age of 16 years.

This information is only a general guide.

Employers and parents must consult the relevant legislation for assistance with specific queries.

How to apply for a child work permit

Employers are required by law to register any child of compulsory school age who are working for them (paid or unpaid) with the Local Authority in which the child will be employed. An employer can be prosecuted for employing a child illegally. In addition, the insurance which the employer must have for his employees may not be valid.

At the age of 16, teenagers can graduate from light duties to more challenging tasks, so many teens get their first jobs at this age. However, many 16-year-olds wonder what jobs they should apply for. Teenagers should look for entry-level jobs which help them develop transferrable skills for their futures.

What sort of work can 16-year-olds do?

Teenagers can get entry-level roles in many non-industrial sectors, including retail and hospitality. Note that as experience often influences salary, 16-year-olds may earn less than the national average. The following roles are ideal for 16-year-olds:

1. Babysitter

National Average Salary: £11.70 per hour

Primary Duties: Babysitters supervise children while their parents are at work or socialising. They may perform some domestic duties, including preparing meals for children, bathing children and cleaning up any messes they make. They usually entertain children by playing games and reading books for them. They also monitor children’s behaviour and reprimand them when required.

2. Dog walker

National Average Salary: £9.19 per hour

Primary Duties: Dog walkers take dogs out for exercise and socialisation. They collect dogs, usually from their owners’ house, and return them after their walks. Dog walkers often take several well-socialised dogs for a walk at once. They must keep the dogs under their control at all times. They also clean up any messes the dogs make and dispose of their waste.

3. Pet sitter

National Average Salary: £23,510 per year

Primary Duties: Pet sitters care for pets while their owners are away on holidays or business trips. Depending on the pets in their care, they feed pets, refill their water bowls and clean up any mess. They might also play with animals or walk them. Some pet sitters also perform simple domestic duties, such as collecting mail and watering plants. Some pet sitters live in the pets’ homes while owners are away. However, most jobs for 16-year-olds involve short visits.

4. Café server

National Average Salary: £9.24 per hour

Primary Duties: Café servers take customer orders and bring food and drinks to their tables. They also explain menu items and recommend dishes when customers are indecisive about their orders and are responsible for cleaning and setting tables. Many 16-year-olds find work in cafés as these establishments usually serve only non-alcoholic beverages, unlike restaurants.

5. Kitchen assistant

National Average Salary: £8.71 per hour

Primary Duties: Kitchen assistants perform simple duties in restaurant kitchens. They are responsible for basic ingredient preparation, including peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables and portioning meat. They may also stir soups and sauces and prepare simple meal components. They may also be responsible for keeping the kitchen floors and surfaces clean.

6. Kitchen porter

National Average Salary: £8.71 per hour

Primary Duties: Kitchen porters keep the restaurant and café kitchens clean and tidy. They have a variety of cleaning duties, including sweeping and mopping floors, washing and drying dishes and cleaning up spills. They empty the kitchen’s rubbish bins whenever they are full. Kitchen porters also unpack and put away new stock. During busy periods, kitchen porters may also help with basic food preparation such as cutting and peeling fruits and vegetables.

7. Shop assistant

National Average Salary: £8.82 per hour

Primary Duties: Shop assistants help customers make purchases. They help customers find the products they want and collect payments for their orders. They may also unpack new stock and put it on shelves or racks. They keep the shop neat and tidy by returning misplaced products to the right locations and sweeping and mopping floors. Some shop assistants also process returns and refunds.

8. Cashier

National Average Salary: £9.11 per hour

Primary Duties: Cashiers process customer transactions. They receive payments from customers and issue receipts for purchased goods. They may be responsible for scanning and bagging products. Most cashiers are responsible for keeping their work stations neat and tidy. Cashiers work in many businesses including supermarkets, retail shops, cinemas, restaurants and zoos.

9. Model

National Average Salary: £39,164 per year

Primary Duties: Models promote products, including clothes, accessories, homewares and toys. Print models pose for photographs printed in magazines, newspapers and catalogues. Catwalk models wear clothes and accessories on fashion runways. Models can also appear in advertisements and promotional videos, where they use products and often show how they work.

10. Actor

National Average Salary: £11.59 per hour

Primary Duties: Actors assume the roles of characters in movies, television programmes, theatre productions and advertisements. They learn and recite lines from a script and pretend they are the characters they play. If they are working on major projects, they may also need to give interviews and promote their work.

11. Tutor

National Average Salary: £18.25 per hour

Primary Duties: Tutors help other students learn outside regular school hours. They provide one-on-one instruction that helps students master concepts or topics they find difficult. Most tutors specialise in a particular subject, such as mathematics or English as a Second Language (ESL). They also teach students general education skills such as note-taking, examination techniques and study skills.

12. Blogger

National Average Salary: £12.58 per hour

Primary Duties: Bloggers write articles about topics including music, fashion, the environment and current affairs. Successful bloggers have a unique point of view and expert knowledge in their chosen subject area. Bloggers can work for blogging channels and other online organisations or work independently. Independent bloggers make money through advertising and affiliate links.

How much can 16-year-olds work?

As a 16-year-old, you can work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. You can also work on for up to eight hours on non-school days, except for Sundays, when you can work for up to two hours.

During school terms, you can work:

• Outside school hours
• One hour or less on any school day
• 12 hours or less in any school week

During the school holidays, you can work up to eight hours on any day except Sunday, when you can work two hours or less. You can work a maximum of 35 hours of work each week.

As a 16-year-old, you can take at least two weeks off work every year. You also get a one-hour break any time you work four or more hours during one shift.

How much should 16-year-olds get paid?

The national minimum wage of £4.55 per hour for under 18s only applies to 16- and 17-year-olds. As a 15-year-old, you should negotiate with your employer for a fair wage. You could use this national minimum wage as a starting point for your negotiations. Be prepared to make a little less, as you are not old enough to qualify for the guaranteed national minimum wage. Doing outstanding work is a good way to encourage your employer to increase your salary in time.

Conclusion

Starting your own business is a great option for gaining experience when you are young. Babysitting, tutoring and blogging are three examples of jobs 16-year-olds can do without employers. Use free marketing tools such as social media platforms to spread the word about your business