How old do you have to be to open a shop in the UK?

Answer 1

If you're under 13, you cannot legally be employed, although you can take part in paid sport or entertainment with permission from your local authority. Once you reach the age of 13, you may be allowed to be employed to do 'light work'. This is work which is not likely to affect your health, safety or education. Things you can do may include shop work or taking on a paper round.

Check with the local authority where your place of work would be to see what restrictions they have about the employment of 13 year olds.

When you're 14, you can be employed in a wide range of jobs, but there are still some that you can't do. For example you may not work in factories or on a building site. If you're unsure about whether you can work in certain jobs, check on these with the local authority.

These restrictions last until you become 16 and have left school, when you become classed as a young worker. This means that you'll have more choice in the jobs you can do. If you are 18 or over, you get the same work rights as adults.

See the related link below.