Children in employment

Children can be employed in certain occupations from 13 to 16 years old.

It's illegal to employ a child without a work permit.

Children under the age of 13 can't be employed.

As a parent or guardian, you and your child's employer must fill in the pdf work permit application form (141 KB) . There is no charge for this.

We'll send a copy of the work permit to the employer, your child's school and you for the job stated on the application form.

You must let us know if your child leaves this job. They'll need a new work permit if they want to work for another employer.

We may inspect the workplace and speak to the employer. We'll write a report and let you know if there are any problems.

Your child is not allowed to:

work in an industrial setting like a factory
work in a cinema, theatre, disco, dance hall or night club except in connection with a performance given entirely by children
sell or deliver alcohol unless it is in sealed containers
deliver milk
deliver fuel oils
work in a commercial kitchen
collect or sort rubbish, recycling or other waste
work more than 3 metres above ground level or, in the case of indoor work, more than 3 metres above floor level
work in employment involving harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents
collect money, sell or canvas door to door unless they're with an adult
work where they would be exposed to adult material
work in telephone sales
work in a slaughterhouse, butcher's shop or anywhere that involves preparing meat for sale
work in a fairground, amusement arcade or anywhere the public can play automatic machines, games of chance or skill or similar devices
give personal care to people in residential care or nursing homes

Your child may need a licence to:

However, a child can perform for a cumulative total of up to 4 days in a 6 month period without the need for a licence, as long as

This total includes licensed and unlicensed productions, but not school productions.

The production company or agency will need to apply for the licence.

Email your completed licence application to: ceal@bristol.gov.uk

Any licence applications with less than 21 days' notice must be discussed with Julie Griffin or Paul Harse who can be contacted on 0117 352 1438.

Contact our Child Employment and Licensing Officer on 0117 352 1438 find out about becoming a chaperone.