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11 Jobs for 14-year-olds in the UK

The first job search is a big challenge, particularly as a teenager. It’s a difficult time to find a job. Still, at the same time, if your search is successful, you’ll have an incredible amount of valuable experience that will allow you to move up the career ladder.
Today’s teenagers want to earn money to afford gifts to loved ones, go shopping, buy things they’ve wanted for a long time, and cover their other out-of-pocket expenses. Not all local businesses are quite ready to hire teenage employees for fear of their inexperience or ignorance of labour laws.

Fortunately, there are now a variety of jobs for 14-year-olds that fully comply with the framework of modern laws. What’s more, many jobs are entry-level qualifications, so you don’t need to have experience, education, or meet any other strict requirements to get on with your direct job duties.

Employment Law For a 14-Year-Old

If a teenager wants to earn some money in their free time, there are a variety of jobs for 14-year-olds. Job duties in this situation can range from washing dishes in a restaurant and cleaning public and private pools to programming. 14 is the minimum age at which you can start working. However, it is worth bearing in mind that child labour laws must be respected in this situation, as the law prohibits the employment of younger teens in certain positions to avoid the exploitation of children. It is also worth considering that if the first job interferes with the school week (working hours overlap with classes, employment spoils grades), parents may be concerned, as well as teachers.

Suitable jobs for 14-year-olds will allow them to carry out job duties in their own time, thus not violating labour laws or to the detriment of school time. It is worth noting that many employers immediately warn teenagers that they have no right to hire you for a specific position until you turn 16. It is also important to note one crucial nuance. If the job search is carried out because you are dealing with a problematic teenager with behavioural problems, then this kind of “occupational therapy” is not the best solution. In this situation, the best option would be to find a special programme for the troubled teenager to correct their behaviour.

If jobs for 14-year-olds are only considered for a child with behavioural problems, then this kind of “occupational therapy” is not the best solution. In this situation, the best option would be to find a particular programme for troubled teenager to correct their behaviour. But before responding to a specific vacancy, it is first worth studying not just job opportunities, a list of certain jobs, but also labour laws. Minors should know their rights perfectly well. There are certain restrictions on where and when teenagers are not allowed to work:

  1. Labour laws do not allow a teenager to work unless they have a special work permit for employment that has been issued by the education department of the local council if required by bylaws;
  2. They may not work in a factory or industrial production site (unless the work is related to the teenager’s existing work experience);
  3. Working hours must not overlap with school hours;
  4. As a teenager, you may not work before 7 a.m. or end your shift after 7 p.m. You may not work an hour before school starts;
  5. It is forbidden to work one hour before the school day starts (unless local regulations permit it);
  6. Jobs for 14-year-olds cannot last more than 4 hours without a break of at least 1 hour;
  7. During the school holidays in each calendar year, the adolescent must always have a break of 2 weeks;
  8. The working day must always be up to eight hours;
  9. Adolescent children are not allowed to work jobs that could harm their health, quality of education or well-being.

Finding jobs directly during the school term and holidays is different, as different rules apply:

  • Jobs hire during the school term must be no more than 12 hours per week, with no more than 2 hours of work on a school day or Sunday, a maximum of 5 hours on Saturday for 13-14-year-olds and a maximum of 8 hours for 15-16-year-olds;
  • Summer jobs for adolescents 13-14 years old must work a maximum of 25 hours per week, with a maximum of 5 hours on weekdays and Saturdays and 2 hours on Sundays, while adolescents 15-16 years old may work a maximum of 35 hours per week, with a maximum of 8 hours on weekdays and Saturdays and 2 hours on Sundays.

Some laws also protect young job seekers from certain jobs. If a teenager is interested in a specific job for 14-year-olds, they can pursue a particular occupation. At the same time, potential employees should be aware that there are certain areas where they may not be legally allowed to work. In particular, this can include any tasks involving danger or the use of physical force that can cause time (this applies not only to physical health but also mental health). State law allows you NOT to do the following jobs:

  • construction;
  • earthworks;
  • mining;
  • interaction with radioactive or explosive items and structures;
  • activities involving the use of heavy tools;
  • providing public services.

14-year-olds cannot unload lorries, work in a manufacturing company, clean roofs and other dangerous elevations, or do other jobs where they could be hurt. In addition, safety rules must be observed, which must be explained to the employer.

It is also worth noting that there is no minimum wage for 14-year-olds. It means that they cannot claim the national minimum wage. The amount of the salary is necessarily agreed upon directly with the employer. The payment depends on which job duties the teenager will be performing. To ensure you are paid a fair amount, it is best to ask your employer for the minimum wage for under-18s (currently £4.81).

Part-Time Employment Options

Jobs for 14-year-olds often involve part-time jobs, so teenagers maintain academic performance. The first job is usually a few hours, but only sometimes daily. The schedule is made so the work does not take up school hours. Strange as it may seem, but such vacancies do exist. There are few of them, but the jobs for 14-year-olds are pretty diverse.

  1. Dog Walking and Pet Sitting

    Average wage per hour: £10.82

    Dog walker job duties consist of taking animals out for a walk regularly. Some may only take one pet, while others take multiple dogs on a walk. To succeed in this position, it pays to know what the different dog breeds look like and their behaviour, as this directly impacts how the walk will go and how long it will take. A dog walker must love animals and be hardy, as many dogs like to walk for long periods while playing.

    Popular jobs for 14-year-olds can also include pet sitters. In this situation, you must properly care for dogs, cats and other animals when their owner is not with them. For example, when the latter goes on holiday or business trip for work issues. A pet sitter’s main task is to ensure that the pet is fed, happy and safe while its owner is away. In this situation, you also need to understand dog breeds and the needs of other types of animals. Each of them requires special nutrition and care. However, the owner often explains these rules before leaving the pet in their care.

  2. Lawn and Garden Maintenance

    Average wage per hour: £10.99

    Many homeowners prefer to avoid looking after their lawn and garden themselves but entrust the task to teenagers. The primary job duties represent quite a wide range of actions that allow you to earn quite good money. It is worth noting that in this situation, you can not only look after the garden yourself but also get a job as a garden assistant, helping with the care of the territory of the gardener. This job involves several duties: mowing the lawn, collecting leaves, snow removal, planting flowers and caring for them, trimming bushes and so on.

    This situation often involves part-time jobs – you can only come to work on certain days of the week, non-school days, to tend to the garden. In addition, you will need to be able to use gardening tools and specialised machinery to carry out your duties successfully.

Creative and Artistic Opportunities

Jobs for 14-year-olds can bring out the creative potential of a teenager. They can start earning money early if they desire something creative and unusual. If you are interested in popular jobs in the field of creativity and artistic opportunities, consider the following options.

  1. Blogging

    Average wage per hour: £10.25

    It isn’t exactly a traditional job, but it has rapidly gained popularity over the last few years. The main job duties of a blogger are to write a variety of articles on the topic that has been chosen as the main topic for the blog (fashion, music, cooking, animals, educational facts and so on). It is quite a popular online job. Successful bloggers often have a unique point of view and expert knowledge in a particular field, which wins a large audience of subscribers. A blogger can work independently, maintain his account, or work for various virtual organisations and channels. Earnings on this work are received for the publication of advertising and distribution of affiliate links.

    To successfully engage with your subscribers, you must have good communication skills, speak on camera and know how to get your message across to the audience on the other side of the screen.

  2. Arts and Crafts Sales

    Average wage per hour: £12.74

    No special work permit is required in this situation. This job involves the teenager creating their artwork, which they can then sell. It is an excellent first-income option for creative 14-year-olds who want to earn money from their hobby. You can make crafts on non-school days or in your spare time.

    Arts and crafts can bring a decent income. You can do all sorts of things: painting pictures, sewing toys, making beadwork and much more.

  3. Music Lessons or Performances

    Average wage per hour: £27.46

    For many people, the ideal job lies in the opportunity to do something they love. If a teenager has a great passion for music, it is also possible to earn good money from this creative work. The presented employment option implies a part-time job. In this situation, you can conduct music lessons in your spare time, helping your students master musical instruments or work on their vocals. In addition to teaching, you can also organise full-fledged shows – performing in public places or establishments. But in this situation, you must keep a clear eye on the time, as teenagers are not allowed to work in nightclubs after 19:00.

Retail and Customer Service

If a teenager has good communication skills, they can send a job application to retail shops and other similar places to start a career in retail. It is the best job for 14-year-olds who do not mind working with others.

  1. Newspaper Delivery

    Average wage per hour: £9.57

    It is an excellent employment option that allows you to work even on a school day before school starts. The primary responsibility of a newspaper delivery person is to ensure that customers receive their newspapers on time. Often, deliveries only need to be made once a day in the morning. To succeed, it is worthwhile to have time management skills and a certain amount of care in not damaging the newspapers during delivery.

  2. Shop Assistant or Retail Helper

    Average wage per hour: £9.72

    A shop assistant is a professional working in retail stores. They are responsible for customer service, organising sales and handling various shop operations. Also, the main job duties of these customers include:
    – Stocking shelves.
    – Restocking shelves.
    – Maintaining the sales floor in proper order.
    – Supervising other workers in the hall.
    – Assisting customers in choosing the necessary goods.

    In addition, a sales assistant must also have customer service skills, and some may even need to master the cash register, but 14-year-olds are rarely allowed to do this.

    Present workers can get jobs in grocery stores, clothing boutiques, and other places that deal with retail. This job involves entering the shop early, standing for long periods, and working behind a cash register. It also requires excellent interpersonal skills to interact with customers and help them find their needs successfully.

  3. Car Wash Attendant

    Average wage per hour: £10.35

    Washing cars is one of the most popular positions among teenagers. In addition, the job offers a fairly flexible schedule. Still, simultaneously, you will have to fulfil several duties. Teenagers can schedule when to start washing cars, thus not damaging their school performance or overloading other student responsibilities. It is a relatively simple job that does not require any special qualifications. To be successful in this job, you must have good communication, attention to detail, enough stamina to wash multiple machines, and constant access to water.

Food Service Roles

Some of the most popular jobs for young people are in the catering industry. Many potential employers are okay with hiring teenagers who can teach everything they need to know and make real experts from a young age. We have collected a few different options of jobs for 14-year-olds, which you can get a job without the relevant qualifications and work experience.

  1. Ice Cream Vendor

    Average wage per hour: £11.08

    The primary duties of this job include:
    – Showing customers the ice cream menu.
    – Providing samples.
    – Answering a variety of questions about flavours, additives and more.
    – Making a batch of ice cream and billing and receiving payment.

    On this job, you must know what kind of ice cream flavours you sell and serve each customer courteously. Basic requirements include good communication, stamina, and learning quickly.

  2. Junior Barista

    Average wage per hour: £10.27

    The primary job duties of a barista include preparing and serving a variety of drinks featured on the coffee shops’ menu. In addition, the barista also has to answer customers’ questions, helping them choose the right drink. Other direct duties include billing the customer using a cash register and paying the customer. The barista must also ensure that their workplace is clean. No relevant experience is required for employment; training occurs on the job.

    It would help if you had good communication and stamina to be an excellent barista, as you must be on your feet at the counter for long periods.

  3. Restaurant Host or Hostess

    Average wage per hour: £9.63

    This position is available in fast-food restaurants and other public places. This job requires serving customers and helping them to enjoy the food served. Some jobs may also involve taking orders from customers, taking out food and drinks, cleaning tables, billing guests, etc.

Many employers are very comfortable hiring people who have yet to gain experience. Often, training takes place directly on the job. Still, at the same time, it is necessary to have a developed emotional intelligence: it is essential to remain friendly and friendly with customers and other institution staff. High stamina and the ability to multi-task simultaneously during busy times are also necessary. Shifts at the establishment can be coordinated with school schedules so that you can work during your free time.

11 Jobs for 14-year-olds in the UK
Date: 2 September 2023
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