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Home Young people and employment

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child employment Working can be a positive experience for young people but there are rules and regulations which have to be met before and during the time a young person is employed.

These rules and regulations help to protect the welfare of the young person while at work.

Here you will find everything you need to know about young people in employment and young people involved in work within television, theatre, sport or modelling.

What are the rules for young people in work?

There are different rules and regulations for young people in general employment and those working in entertainment and modelling.

In the documents below you will find useful information about child employment for both young people and the employer.

Who can work?

Young people of compulsory school age are allowed by law to be employed part time from the age of 13 to 16, with the exception of children involved in television, theatre, modelling or similar activities.

If a young person has a national insurance number this does not mean they can leave school and work full time. They will still have to wait until they are past compulsory school age.

What is the national minimum wage and does it apply to young people?

These rates are current from October 2011 (all in amount per hour)

21 and over £6.08
18 to 20 years old £4.98
16 to 17 year olds (above school leaving age but under 18) £3.68 .
Apprentices under the age of 19 or 19 or over and are in their first 12 months of their apprenticeship receive £2.60 an hour.

If you are an employer wanting to apply for an employment permit:

please contact the Child Employment and Licensing Officer
please note, only the employer can make an application for an employment permit for a young person
an application pack for an employment permit will be sent out to you, this will take two to three days
you must return the employment permit application form signed by the parent/carer and with a copy of the young persons birth certificate. If you do not do this it will delay your application for a permit.