Founding Partner 1-Page Reference
UK Statutory Compliance (14–24+)
UK Youth Employment & Safeguarding Guide
A clear, practical 1-page reference for local employers hiring young people aged 14–18 for weekend shifts, holiday jobs, work experience tasters, and apprenticeships.
Built Into StartLocal
StartLocal automates age-gating, under-16 parent locks,
and working-hour checks automatically on every Wave.
and working-hour checks automatically on every Wave.
1. UK Statutory Working Hours & Rules by Age Band
Children & Young Persons Act 1933 / Working Time Regulations 1998| Age Tier | Term-Time Hours | School Holiday Hours | Permitted Time Window & Rest | StartLocal Automated Safeguards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ages 14–15 Compulsory School Age |
Max 12 hrs / week • Max 2 hrs on school days & Sundays • Max 5 hrs on Saturdays (age 14) • Max 8 hrs on Saturdays (age 15) |
Max 25 hrs / week (age 14) Max 35 hrs / week (age 15) • Max 5 hrs/day (14) or 8 hrs/day (15) • Max 2 hrs on Sundays |
• 7:00am – 7:00pm only • Never during school hours • 1 hr rest break after 4 hrs work • Local council child employment permit required |
Dual-Delivery Parent Lock: Under-16s cannot accept a Wave or share contact details until their verified parent/guardian approves. |
|
Ages 16–17 Young Workers (Post-GCSE) |
Max 40 hours / week & Max 8 hours / day • Cannot be averaged over a reference period (no opt-out of 48-hr limit) • Ideal for weekend shifts, after-college roles, summer jobs, and Level 2/3 Apprenticeships |
• No work between 10pm – 6am (or 11pm – 7am in hospitality/retail with supervision) • 30 min break if shift > 4.5 hrs • 12 hrs rest between shifts; 48 hrs weekly rest |
Verified Employer Gate: Only Companies House CRN + Safeguarding verified businesses can Wave at 16–17 profiles. | |
|
Ages 18–24+ Young Adults & Graduates |
Standard Adult Working Time Regulations • Up to 48 hours / week average (unless opted out) • Full eligibility for licensed hospitality (bar service), late shifts, and full-time roles |
• 20 min rest break if shift > 6 hrs • 11 hrs daily rest between shifts • Full National Minimum Wage (18–20 or 21+ National Living Wage) |
Direct Wave Matchmaking: Instant 1-click Wave & structured interview scheduling. | |
2. Pay, Tax & Permits
- • Under-16s: Exempt from National Minimum Wage & National Insurance (only add to PAYE if earning above tax threshold). Requires a free Local Council Child Work Permit within 7 days of starting.
- • Ages 16–17 & Apprentices: Entitled to the statutory 16–17 National Minimum Wage (or Apprentice Rate). Zero Employer Secondary Class 1 NI contributions on earnings up to £967/week for under-21s!
- • Work Experience Tasters: School/college-sanctioned short work experience placements are unremunerated learning placements covered by your existing Employer's Liability Insurance.
3. Safeguarding & DBS Rules
- • Named Workplace Buddy: Assign a trusted supervisor or shift lead as the young person's primary point of contact on day one.
- • When is a DBS Check required? For normal Saturday/part-time jobs (16+), a DBS check on general staff is not required. Enhanced DBS is only needed if a dedicated supervisor has unsupervised 1-to-1 regulated activity with an under-16 on school work experience.
- • No Closed-Door 1-to-1s: Keep coaching and induction in open, visible workspaces (shopfloor, café counter, open office).
4. Health, Safety & Insurance
- • Employer's Liability Insurance (ELI): According to the HSE & ABI, your existing ELI policy automatically covers young workers and work experience students (no extra policy needed).
- • Age-Restricted Tasks: Under-18s cannot sell alcohol unsupervised (every alcohol sale in a shop/pub must be approved by an adult staff member) or operate high-risk industrial slicing/heavy machinery without formal training.
- • 5-Minute Induction: Walk through fire exits, safe lifting, and who to ask if unsure—never assume prior workplace experience.
StartLocal Founding Employer Network • www.startlocal.org.uk/early-access
Questions on hiring your first young person or setting up a work experience taster? Email info@startlocal.org.uk.