Rules for employers
All employers have to follow national child employment rules , which protect children's rights.
In Brighton & Hove employers also have to follow local employment laws .
Employers need to apply for permission to employ a child if they want to employ a child of school age.
School age lasts until the last Friday in June of the school year in which the child becomes 16 years old.
Work children can do
A child who is between 13 and 16 years old can:
deliver newspapers and leaflets
work in a shop, including stacking shelves
work in an office
do hairdressing
work in a café or restaurant, but not in the kitchen
work in hotels and other places offering accommodation
do light agricultural or gardening work (but cannot use machinery)
wash cars
Work children cannot do
A child who is 13, up to school leaving age cannot:
work in a cinema, theatre, or nightclub
work in construction or with anything involving dangerous, and heavy machinery
sell or deliver alcohol
deliver milk
deliver fuel oils
work in a commercial kitchen
collect or sort refuse
work 3 metres above ground
be exposed to harmful physical, biological, or chemical agents
collect money or canvas door to door
exposed to adult material
do telephone sales
work in a slaughterhouse/butcher’s shop
assist at a fairground, amusement park or arcade
work in bingo halls or any other place for licenced games
work in residential care
work at a racetrack
When children can work
Children need to be at least 13 years old to work part-time, unless they work in TV, film, theatre or modelling .
Children can't work for more than 4 hours without a break.
Maximum hours children can work are listed below.
Age 13 to 14
Age 15 to 16
School days
2 hours
2 hours
Saturdays
5 hours
8 hours
Sundays
2 hours
2 hours
Term time
12 hours per week
12 hours per week
School holidays
5 hours per day
25 hours per week
8 hours per day
35 hours per week
More information
Get more information about child employment and working hours for children from GOV.UK.
For more information or to apply for a child employment licence, please contact the CIEE Officer.
Email: Hannah.campbell@brighton-hove.gov.uk