Jobs for a 15 year old

[craftymadam]

My DS is 15 & would like to get a job over the summer holidays.
Any suggestions of where to look and what he might be able to do.at 15?

I think you have to be 16 to get a National Insurance number. My grandsons didn't get jobs until they were 16.

A son of a friend of mine worked in a pizza place when he was 15, they paid him a pittance and gave him a pizza at the end of his shift. You are better off asking family and friends if they need any help shopping, car washing, or gardening.

When he's 16 he can get a proper contract and not be taken advantage of like the above. My grandson works in a supermarket and gets minimum wage and holiday pay.

Newspaper delivery boy is about the only job you can do under 16 because of NI, insurance etc.

My DS the same age and asked in a few high street shops. Most said go away and bring back a CV. So he’s pulled together info about extra curricular activities, volunteering, short courses. It’s a good practice run for the real thing. I don’t believe he’ll find work before he turns 16 but if he does he can legitimately do Saturdays (plus a few hours on Sunday theoretically but I’m saying no to that). The pay would be dreadful but I think that would bring a sense of perspective he needs.

I know some 14/15 year olds who are glass collectors in a local pub, all kids of staff though.

My 15 year old will be coming to work in the office I work in over summer, scanning and shredding old documents there will be a few of them but again all kids of staff.

You can work without a NI number so thats not really relevant but the insurance and general hassle of employing under 16s is not worth it for most places.

More advice here www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

It's possible in independent shops, cafes etc. around here they are desperate for staff

I was going to say collecting glasses, or washing up in a pub. One of my relatives worked Sundays washing up at her parents local.

My oldest two have worked at the Chinese restaurant taking phone orders and waitering, also waitressing at the pub. Both are legal depending on the hours they worked. My daughter got a job at a high street clothes retailer just after her 16th birthday which I was surprised about, she loves it and they pay pretty well. They also did piece work for a local company who make craft items.

I was thinking of getting my DS 15 to ask around at dog walking companies if they need extra help, but DH convinced that he wouldn't be able to due to insurance purposes.

It appears to be very limited work that they can do.

My DS is a waiter at a high end restaurant. He is well treated and well paid given his age. They limit the hours he works and the time he finishes in the evening.
He went and asked, they interviewed him, then gave him a trial. No need for a NINo.
There are several cafes near me that will take under 16s so long as they’re hard working, confident and reliable.

It's virtually impossible in our area. Red tape because of under 16 and we have a fairly large college locally as well which means lots of students take jobs from May/June to September and on weekends all year round.

I know some who got jobs thanks to family connections.,