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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Jobs for 16 year olds?

32 replies

SunflowersAndSmellyTrainers · 11/09/2023 14:54

Can anyone advise if there is anywhere who will hire 16 year old for part time work?

My DD turns 16 next week and is searching around for work - fighting shy of a paper round & tbh I don't blame her.

OP posts:
Batmanandrabbit · 11/09/2023 14:55

TK Maxx take on 16 year olds and they pay really well too.

Mauricemossy · 11/09/2023 14:57

Saturday assistant at library?

SkiingIsHeaven · 11/09/2023 14:58

Lots of restaurants

Ballgateblazer · 11/09/2023 15:36

Home bargains.

mumonthehill · 11/09/2023 15:38

Ds started at 15 pot washing and gone on to do restaurant work. She might have to be prepared to start at the bottom.

Rollergirl11 · 11/09/2023 19:14

A lot of places won’t hire until after they’ve finished their GCSE’s. Think it’s to do with insurance. DD got a job at Waitrose in the summer after her exams when she was 16. She gets paid £10.50 ph and works 11 hours per week.

Danielle9891 · 11/09/2023 19:40

Restaurants and hotels. I work in the hotel restaurant and the younger staff tend to do the breakfast shifts and work during the day, taking the food out and clearing the tables. They aren't allowed to serve alcohol but that's it.
Loads of restaurants prefer younger staff as they are cheaper and work weekends and holidays without childcare being an issue. So just make sure she is getting paid correctly.

Silverfoxlady · 11/09/2023 20:56

I have worked in nurseries and pre-schools that have hired 16 year olds, especially if they have experience playing and looking after younger siblings and babysitting. That is an option.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 11/09/2023 21:04

A lot of places won’t take 16 years olds until after summer exams.

my dd15 works at the local football ground on the turnstiles. Most independent pubs will take kids on while still at school and some independent shops.

BackT · 11/09/2023 21:08

Restaurants for pot washing, possibly waitressing but they don't always want that due to serving alcohol.

DD serves breakfast at a hotel.

Onehappymam · 11/09/2023 21:12

Round here all of the hotels, restaurants and take aways employ teens from age 14 upwards.

Supermarkets and shops tend to want 18 year olds.

Summer2424 · 11/09/2023 21:15

Hi @SunflowersAndSmellyTrainers
Back in the day i was working at WHSmith at 16 yrs old, discount was really good there too, i'm sure they'll still employ 16 yr olds.

AnneElliott · 12/09/2023 07:53

I think Boots does as I was looking for a friends son.

My son got a job in a theatre at 16 (front of house so wasn't needed for the bar).

EmmaStone · 12/09/2023 08:39

DD started waitressing from 16. DS currently looking for similar, more likely to be a kitchen porter.

Smoky1107 · 12/09/2023 13:40

Waitress on Sundays in a local gastro pub type place both my daughters worked there over the years

user14699084657 · 12/09/2023 13:50

Local cafe. £8.25 an hour, plus lunch and usually brings cake or ice cream home!
Waitressing/table clearing/washing up.
They’ve really enjoyed it over the summer.

HairyMaclary · 12/09/2023 14:01

Front of house in a cafe - not full waiter if but close. Only allowed to start after GCSEs sans oid minimum wage for 16 year olds, £5.25 ph or so. I may have to get him to look at some other places as the wages seem a lot better elsewhere!

HarrietStyles · 12/09/2023 14:03

We hire at lot of 15-18 year olds in our family cafe. Maybe pop into any small independent cafes/coffee shops near you to enquire.

Mumski45 · 12/09/2023 15:38

My DS got a job at Booths when he was 16 just after his GCSE's and my friends DS got one at Sports Direct. Booths do pay well but are only in North West.

Comefromaway · 12/09/2023 15:44

The problem with hiring someone in Year 11 is that they are only allowed to work 2 hours on school days or Sundays & 8 hours on Saturday. If they work for more than 4 hours they have to have a full hours break. Those hours don't work for many businesses when there is a willing supply older students or part time workers willing to take those hours and be more flexible.

HoraceTheLlama · 12/09/2023 15:49

Rollergirl11 · 11/09/2023 19:14

A lot of places won’t hire until after they’ve finished their GCSE’s. Think it’s to do with insurance. DD got a job at Waitrose in the summer after her exams when she was 16. She gets paid £10.50 ph and works 11 hours per week.

They have to be of “school leaving age” or they still count as a child worker and there are permit to get and much stricter rules of shifts and break times

Stroopwaffels · 12/09/2023 16:37

DD started working at Next a week after her 16th birthday and they were very good at ensuring she got the extra breaks and was never asked to work early/late. Brilliant first job for her.

Stroopwaffels · 12/09/2023 16:41

Comefromaway · 12/09/2023 15:44

The problem with hiring someone in Year 11 is that they are only allowed to work 2 hours on school days or Sundays & 8 hours on Saturday. If they work for more than 4 hours they have to have a full hours break. Those hours don't work for many businesses when there is a willing supply older students or part time workers willing to take those hours and be more flexible.

Depends on the age of the child and where they are - we are in Scotland and although there were restrictions on her starting before 8am (I think) and she couldn't work after 8pm or 9pm, and she got a longer break than other workers, she was allowed to do 6 hours on a Sunday, and pick up extra shifts as and when. 6 hours a week as a standard shift was perfect for her in combination with schooling.

EquallyDetermined · 12/09/2023 16:42

Yes, much more available after statutory school leaving age just after GCSEs. Shops, restaurants, hair salons, cafes, garden centres, fast food places, very much depends what you have locally. Problem my DCs have found is that many want you to do a couple of evenings as well a weekend day and it can be a bit much with studying especially if you have time consuming hobbies, mine haven't had much luck just finding the traditional Saturday job and have had to do more hours than they'd really like. They did both start with paper rounds but younger than 16.

Howmanysleepsnow · 12/09/2023 16:48

My 16yo works at a shopping centre food court. Before that she worked as a morning cleaner in a city centre bar (6.30am-11.30am)
TK Maxx and Boots employ 16yo (boots will also employ 15yo). DD’s friends also work or have worked In McDonald’s/ kfc/ at a Christmas tree farm/ sports direct/ Chinese restaurant.