Employing Young People

What employers need to know

How it can help your business

Employing young people can benefit your business in many ways.

Taking on a trainee can address skills gaps within your business and provide you with a new employee who you can mould. Including young people in your recruitment will provide your company with a workforce for the future. Through training and a structured career development this will have benefit at all levels of your organisation. The young person that you take on now may be a future supervisor or manager in your business!

Employing a young person can change the profile of your company, keeping you in touch with all your customers. Participation in training can keep your organisation up to speed with new developments within your industry. Your existing staff will be involved in training the new employee. This can be a development opportunity for them and, in the initial period, having a trainee may also free them up to carry out skilled work.

Improving the level of education and skill of young people is a Government objective therefore the costs of training this group are highly subsidised. Case studies provide compelling evidence that apprenticeships deliver strong business benefit such as increased productivity and staff retention, reduced costs and a more diverse workforce.¹
¹ Warwick University study, September 2005

When can young people leave school?

There is a single school leaving date for all school leavers completing their final year of compulsory education. This is the last Friday in June, in the school year in which they become 16.

Employing young people who are still in compulsory education

The minimum age for employment is normally 13 years.

No child still of compulsory school age can work before 7am or after 7pm. The exact number of hours permitted per day are also restricted (e.g. no more than 2 hours on a school day) and there are some types of work that are prohibited. Employers must also obtain a "work permit" from their local education authority before employing a child still of compulsory school age.

For full details of the bye-laws affecting the employment of school children, employers should contact the Education Welfare Service of their local education authority:-

Nottingham City Council
All enquiries: 0115 915 0716/7

Nottinghamshire County Council
Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Mansfield and Newark areas: 0845 330 4215
Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe areas: 0115 854 6421

National Minimum Wage

As of October 2007 the minimum wage rates will be:

For workers aged 16-17 – £3.40 per hour.
For workers aged 18-21 – £4.60 per hour.
For workers aged 22 and over – £5.52 per hour.

The minimum wage will change again in late 2008. For more detailed guidance on the national minimum wage, employers are advised to call the national helpline on 0845 6000 678. A free copy of “A Detailed Guide to the National Minimum Wage” can be requested. Alternatively, visit the employment rights website at www.berr.gov.uk.

Time Off for Study or Training

Young people aged 16 - 18 who are in employment now have the right to paid time off for study or training.

Who is eligible?
Employees aged 16-17 with few, if any, qualifications will be entitled to reasonable, paid time off for study or training. Employees would work towards an NVQ Level 2 or specified equivalent qualifications such as the BTEC First or five GCSEs grade A-C.

18 year-olds who have already begun their study or training with another employer, and who come to work for you, will be allowed to complete it whilst aged 18.

More information about ‘time off for study or training’ legislation can be obtained from your local Connexions Centre or by visiting www.dfes.gov.uk/tfst

Working time regulations:

The Working Time Regulations (first introduced in 1998 and amended in 2003) provide new rights for employees ensuring that they do not have to work excessive hours.

The main provisions of the Regulations are:-

A maximum of 48 hours per week including overtime
An average 8 hour shift per 24 hours for night workers
A rest break of at least 20 minutes after 6 consecutive hours of work
A minimum of 24 days paid leave for full time workers

For young workers aged 16-17, additional rules apply:-

Young workers may not ordinarily be employed for more that 8 hours per day, or for more than 40 hours per week
Young workers are entitled to 12 consecutive hours of rest in each 24 hour period and a minimum of 30 minutes rest break when they work for more than four and a half hours
At night, young workers will usually be prohibited from working between 10pm- 6am or 11pm-7am although some sectors are exempt (these include hospitals, hotels, catering businesses and postal or newspaper deliveries).

For more detailed guidance on how the Regulations apply in practice employers should call 08457 47 47 47 or alternatively, please visit www.berr.gov.uk.

Age Discrimination

Since 1 October 2006, there is legal protection against age discrimination. It is unlawful to discriminate on grounds of age, including the areas of employment and training. Treating staff fairly and recognising individuals’ talents and needs is not just the right thing to do, but makes good business sense as well.

To view more information about age regulations, visit www.berr.gov.uk (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform).