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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

What jobs can a 15 year old boy do?

25 replies

winterrabbit · 02/05/2023 17:16

DS has just turned 15 and is desperate to get a job. Does anyone know what sort of job a 15 year old can do? I've offered to pay him to do jobs around the house but he wants a proper job somewhere where he can make his own money. TIA.

OP posts:
lalalalalalaleeee · 02/05/2023 17:17

If you have a pub that has skittles teams, they often pay teenagers to put the skittles back up between players

CharlotteDoyle · 02/05/2023 17:19

I don't know what jobs might be available to him in your area, but you will want to be aware of the legal requirements relating to employment at his age:

www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment#:~:text=During%20school%20holidays%2015%20to,of%202%20hours%20on%20Sunday

SomersetBrie · 02/05/2023 19:46

Washing up, clearing up in cafes seems to be what 15 year olds do round here.

JazbayGrapes · 04/05/2023 16:38

Cash in hand jobs. Babysitting, gardening, car washing.

Beenaboutabit · 04/05/2023 16:43

Friends’ kids deliver newspapers and work in convenience stores from 14.

my cousin worked in a local hotel kitchen helping wash and clear up breakfast a few hours in the morning in the summer holidays last year.

DistrictCommissioner · 05/05/2023 10:43

15 year old boys I know do labour for relatives on farms & building sites, work in cafes & shops, wash up in pubs…

ItsReallyOnlyMe · 05/05/2023 10:55

Newspaper delivery is the obvious one - but I imagine there's not many vacancies now. Maybe a cafe could take him on - can you ask some if them ? He could 'volunteer' in a charity shop now and that would set him for paid work at 16.

At 16 though he can do the Lifeguarding qualification (although you do have to pay for this) and - if there is a pool near you - there will be jobs for various shift patterns there.
Lifeguards receive a bit more than the minimum wage so they're well paid compared to their peers.

MrsSkylerWhite · 05/05/2023 10:57

Do you live in a holiday town? Lots of cafes and kiosks will hire 15 year olds to clear tables/wash up/sell ice cream, etc.

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 05/05/2023 10:57

Chimney sweep

FrenchandSaunders · 05/05/2023 10:58

Mine worked in a chip shop at that age.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 06/05/2023 07:32

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 05/05/2023 10:57

Chimney sweep

I was on this thread after ideas for DD. She is quite small so this might work but I seem to remember something about this being frowned upon? Grin

Dazzler27 · 13/10/2024 06:21

lalalalalalaleeee · 02/05/2023 17:17

If you have a pub that has skittles teams, they often pay teenagers to put the skittles back up between players

Blimey that's rather niche

DistrictCommissioner · 13/10/2024 14:33

Dazzler27 · 13/10/2024 06:21

Blimey that's rather niche

Show quote history

this is a job I’ve known teens do, maybe it’s a rural thing??

MissyB1 · 13/10/2024 17:33

Dazzler27 · 13/10/2024 06:21

Blimey that's rather niche

Show quote history

Depends where you live, we are near Gloucester where this is a big thing!

Dazzler27 · 21/10/2024 14:50

Referring kids football is a good earner about £20 for 40 mins work.

Katmannn · 22/10/2024 11:42

We had a couple of local teen boys washing cars. They did well the first weekend and they invested the money they made in better equipment, power washer, trolley to carry their washing gear, etc. Their next purchase was a Sum-Up machine, as they found a lot of customers didn't have cash. They have a nice little business going now and a lot of regular customers.

clarrylove · 22/10/2024 11:48

My 15yr old does some office cleaning plus also sticking up at the skittles. It pays well!

givemushypeasachance · 22/10/2024 17:08

I did skittles setting up as a teenager, for a bit of cash and a half of cider! That was in Devon and early 00s however. It is a thing though.

I had a paper round and then started in retail work at 16, it's got tougher as big businesses find it a lot easier to just deal with 18 year olds and not have the hassle of employing children. Smaller independent places may be more flexible, and definitely KP work/washing up in a pub or a cafe is something to keep in mind.

WallaceinAnderland · 22/10/2024 17:10

I was a sticker upper from about the age of 14.

ItsYourMoneyRalf · 22/10/2024 17:19

Do paper rounds even exist anymore? I mean who reads a physical newspaper, let alone gets one delivered

DistrictCommissioner · 22/10/2024 21:47

ItsYourMoneyRalf · 22/10/2024 17:19

Do paper rounds even exist anymore? I mean who reads a physical newspaper, let alone gets one delivered

We do, but it’s delivered by car from a newsagent 10 miles away!

BaronessBomburst · 22/10/2024 21:55

I'm not in the UK but here the kids all work in the supermarkets. From 14 they're allowed to do 2-hour shifts, twice a week, shelf-stacking.
I worked as a wine waitress when I was 14, cash in hand, past 7pm, but it was the 80's so things were a bit different in those days!

Roserunner · 22/10/2024 22:06

Does he do a sport? My DC is 14 and gets paid to coach the younger kids for her sports. It's only a few hours a week but gives them some spending money and has been great for their confidence.

Driedonion · 22/10/2024 22:21

Round our way being a KP was the usual first job ( tourist area, lots of hotels)
The Scottish Government nanny state ended that. Apparently 15 year olds can’t be trusted to work in an environment with knives 🙄🙄🙄
DS ended up being a waiter instead. 🤷‍♀️

Fuckthecamelyourodeinon · 22/10/2024 22:22

Kitchen porter in a pub.

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