Fourteen is the age the government gives for starting part-time work, so legally a lot more opens up. The catch is that most supermarkets, fast food chains and high street brands set their own minimum at 16, which means the jobs that actually exist for 14 year olds are mostly local ones.
Can a 14 year old get a job in the UK?
Yes. At 14 you can do light part-time work, as long as it does not affect your health or your education. You cannot work in factories, on building sites, in pubs or anywhere dangerous, and your council's bylaws may rule out some other jobs too. If a business employs you, it usually needs a child employment permit from the council where the work happens, which is free and is the employer's job to arrange.
How many hours can a 14 year old work?
In term time
- Up to 2 hours on a school day, and no more than an hour before school
- Up to 5 hours on a Saturday
- Up to 2 hours on a Sunday
- 12 hours a week in total
In the school holidays
- Up to 5 hours a day on weekdays and Saturdays
- Up to 2 hours on a Sunday
- 25 hours a week in total
On any day you cannot work before 7am or after 7pm, you need a break of at least an hour after 4 hours, and you must have 2 weeks off work during the holidays each year. More detail is in the UK rules for young workers.
Jobs for 14 year olds
Employed jobs, with a permit
- Paper rounds and leaflet delivery
- Helping in an independent shop, newsagent or garden centre
- Front-of-house help in a family café, away from the kitchen
- Helping at riding stables or kennels
- Assisting at local sports clubs or holiday clubs
Jobs you run yourself
- Car washing on your street
- Dog walking and pet sitting
- Gardening, weeding, sweeping and leaf clearing
- Tech help for older neighbours
- Tutoring younger children
- Christmas jobs like wrapping and decorating
These self-run jobs are where most 14 year olds earn their first real money, because you set the price, choose the hours and build a reputation on your own street.
Saturday jobs for 14 year olds
Saturdays are your longest working day in term time, at up to 5 hours. That is enough for a morning in a local shop or stables, or for stacking two or three local jobs, such as washing a car, walking a dog and doing an hour of garden work.
Which places hire at 14?
Be realistic here. Big national employers almost never hire at 14, so walking into a supermarket or a burger chain will not work. The places that do are smaller and local, such as independent shops, newsagents, garden centres, stables, cafés run by families and businesses owned by people you know. When you ask, check whether they are willing to apply for a permit, because if they are not, they probably have not hired someone your age before.
How much do 14 year olds get paid?
Under-16s are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage, so pay is agreed between you and whoever hires you. For local jobs it is usually a fixed price per job, and the teen price guide gives fair starting points.
How to get a job at 14
- Write down what you can offer. A few lines on what you are good at, when you are free and who can vouch for you is enough, and you do not need a full CV.
- Tell your parents. They will need to agree anyway, and they often know people who need help.
- Ask in person. Local shops respond much better to someone polite at the counter than to an email.
- Start with small jobs. Two or three good reviews from neighbours make the next job far easier to get.
- Use KidsHustle. It shows paid jobs posted by verified adults near you, so you are not guessing who needs help.
Find jobs near you
KidsHustle lists real, paid jobs near you, every listing comes from an ID-verified adult, your parent approves each one before you apply, and payment is set aside before you start. Download KidsHustle, or read about what changes at 15.