Find out about the rules employers have to follow that say when children can work, the type of work they can do and how to apply for permission.
A child is classed as employed if they assist in any trade or occupation carried out for profit, regardless of whether the child receives payment or not.
If you fail to obtain a work permit for a child that you employ, you may be fined up to £1,000.
Licences are issued by Brighton & Hove City Council and are free of charge.
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.
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
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
Children need to be at least 13 years old to work part-time, unless they work in TV, film, theatre or modelling.
| 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 |
Children are not allowed to work:
Download the form and return it by email or post to the Children in entertainment and employment licensing team.