How do I find jobs near me as a 16 year old?

Search by your postcode with a 2–5 mile radius on job sites and on big employers' own careers pages, set alerts, and walk into local independent shops and cafés with a printed CV. For full-time paid training, search apprenticeships by postcode on GOV.UK's Find an apprenticeship service. Shine shows live jobs and apprenticeships near the location you enter.

What jobs can you do at 16 in the UK?

At 16 you can work in shops, supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, fast food, cinemas, leisure centres, holiday parks, warehousing and as a tutor or sports referee. You can also start a paid apprenticeship. Jobs you can't do yet include driving for work, security, most pub bar work and night shifts.

How much can a 16 year old earn per hour in 2026?

The legal minimum for 16 and 17 year olds is £8.00 an hour (April 2026 rate). Many large employers pay more — supermarkets and hospitality chains commonly pay £9–£12 an hour to under-18s. Apprentices also have an £8.00 minimum in their first year or if under 19.

How many hours can a 16 year old work?

Once you reach minimum school-leaving age and are under 18: normally up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, in both term time and holidays, including if you continue in sixth form or college. Count hours across all jobs; these limits cannot normally be averaged or opted out of. At 15–16, while still below minimum school-leaving age: up to 12 hours a week in term time (2 on school days and Sundays; 8 on Saturdays), or 35 hours in school holidays (8 on weekdays/Saturdays; 2 on Sundays). No work during school hours or before 7am or after 7pm. Local council rules and permits may add restrictions. The dividing line is minimum school-leaving age, not whether you still attend school, sixth form or college. School-leaving dates differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England you must still stay in education or training until 18; fit work around your course and attendance requirements.

Can I get a job at 16 with no experience?

Yes — the roles that hire the most 16 year olds assume none. Supermarkets, fast food chains, cafés and cinemas train you from scratch. What gets you hired is a clear one-page CV, saying exactly when you can work, and following up after you apply.

What do I need before I can start work at 16?

You need your National Insurance number (posted automatically before your 16th birthday) and a bank account in your own name for payroll. That's it — no parental consent form is legally required, though some employers ask for one anyway.

Is an apprenticeship a better option than a part-time job at 16?

They solve different things. A part-time job gives you weekend money now; an apprenticeship is a full-time paid route into a career with a qualification attached. You can do a part-time job while looking for an apprenticeship — Shine lists both near you.

First jobs at 16

Jobs near you for 16 year olds

Who actually hires at 16, what you'll earn (£8.00 an hour minimum in 2026), how many hours you're allowed to work — and the five steps that get you hired with zero experience.

Browse live jobs open at 16

What jobs can you get at 16 in the UK?

At 16 you can work in shops, supermarkets, cafés, fast food, cinemas, leisure centres, holiday parks and as a tutor or sports referee, and you can start a paid apprenticeship. Minimum pay for 16–17 year olds is £8.00 an hour (April 2026 rate), and most roles need no experience. Shine lists live vacancies open to 16 year olds near you.

Last reviewed 3 September 2026 by the Shine careers team.

How to find jobs near you at 16

Search by your postcode, not just your town

On job sites, set a radius of 2–5 miles from home. Jobs you can walk or bus to are the ones you'll keep — and employers prefer staff who live close.

Check the big chains' own careers sites

Supermarkets, fast food and high-street shops list local branch vacancies on their own careers pages. Search your postcode there and set an alert.

Walk your high street with printed CVs

Independent cafés, bakeries, takeaways and car washes near you often never advertise online. Go mid-morning on a weekday when managers are less busy.

Look for apprenticeships near you

The official GOV.UK Find an apprenticeship service lets you search by postcode and distance. Shine also lists live apprenticeships near you.

See jobs open at 16 near you

The jobs that actually hire at 16

Supermarkets & shops

£8.00–£11/hr

The biggest employer of 16 year olds. Checkout, shelf stacking, trolleys, stockroom. Predictable weekend and evening rotas.

Fast food & restaurants

£8.00–£12/hr + tips

McDonald's, KFC, Nando's and local takeaways recruit under-18s heavily. Free or discounted food is a common perk.

Cafés & coffee shops

£8.00–£10/hr

Counter service, clearing tables, washing up, barista training. Independent cafés often hire by walk-in with a CV.

Cinemas & leisure

£8.00–£10/hr

Usher, ticket desk, bowling alley, leisure centre assistant. Busy weekends mean more shifts for reliable staff.

Sport & coaching

£15–£25/match

Referee youth football (FA course from 14), lifeguard at 16 with an NPLQ, or help coach younger age groups.

Apprenticeships

£8.00+/hr from day one

A full-time paid job with a qualification attached — engineering, digital, construction, business and more. Shine lists live ones near you.

Pay and hours at 16: the rules

• Minimum pay: £8.00 an hour for 16–17 year olds (April 2026 rate — check gov.uk each April, it rises every year).
Which rules apply? The dividing line is minimum school-leaving age, not whether you still attend school, sixth form or college. School-leaving dates differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England you must still stay in education or training until 18; fit work around your course and attendance requirements.
Once you reach minimum school-leaving age and are under 18: normally up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, in both term time and holidays, including if you continue in sixth form or college. Count hours across all jobs; these limits cannot normally be averaged or opted out of.
Young workers above school-leaving age normally get a 30-minute break when working more than 4.5 hours, 12 hours' daily rest and 48 hours' weekly rest. Young workers normally cannot work between 10pm and 6am (or 11pm and 7am if the contract allows). Limited exceptions have conditions, not blanket permission for a whole sector; check GOV.UK before accepting a late shift. Work between midnight and 4am is prohibited.
At 15–16, while still below minimum school-leaving age: up to 12 hours a week in term time (2 on school days and Sundays; 8 on Saturdays), or 35 hours in school holidays (8 on weekdays/Saturdays; 2 on Sundays). No work during school hours or before 7am or after 7pm. Local council rules and permits may add restrictions.
Children below school-leaving age must have a 60-minute break after no more than 4 hours of work and at least 2 consecutive weeks without work during school holidays each calendar year.
Hours checked 21 October 2026. Sources: GOV.UK child employment; Acas young workers; GOV.UK rest breaks; GOV.UK school-leaving age; GOV.UK night work.

How to get hired at 16, step by step

1
Write a one-page CV
School, subjects, hobbies, any volunteering, and two referees (a teacher is fine). Shine's free CV builder has a first-job template that takes ten minutes.
2
Decide your hours
Write down exactly when you can work — Saturday all day, Sunday morning, two evenings. Employers hire 16 year olds for reliability, so be specific.
3
Apply online to the big chains
Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl, McDonald's, KFC, Primark, Boots and JD Sports all recruit 16 year olds through their own careers sites. Set alerts and apply the day a role appears.
4
Walk in locally
Independent cafés, shops, car washes and takeaways rarely advertise online. Print ten CVs, walk in, ask for the manager, hand it over with a smile.
5
Follow up after three days
A polite call or visit asking whether your application was received puts you ahead of almost every other 16 year old — almost nobody does it.

FAQs

How do I find jobs near me as a 16 year old?: Search by your postcode with a 2–5 mile radius on job sites and on big employers' own careers pages, set alerts, and walk into local independent shops and cafés with a printed CV. For full-time paid training, search apprenticeships by postcode on GOV.UK's Find an apprenticeship service. Shine shows live jobs and apprenticeships near the location you enter.
What jobs can you do at 16 in the UK?: At 16 you can work in shops, supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, fast food, cinemas, leisure centres, holiday parks, warehousing and as a tutor or sports referee. You can also start a paid apprenticeship. Jobs you can't do yet include driving for work, security, most pub bar work and night shifts.
How much can a 16 year old earn per hour in 2026?: The legal minimum for 16 and 17 year olds is £8.00 an hour (April 2026 rate). Many large employers pay more — supermarkets and hospitality chains commonly pay £9–£12 an hour to under-18s. Apprentices also have an £8.00 minimum in their first year or if under 19.
How many hours can a 16 year old work?: Once you reach minimum school-leaving age and are under 18: normally up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, in both term time and holidays, including if you continue in sixth form or college. Count hours across all jobs; these limits cannot normally be averaged or opted out of. At 15–16, while still below minimum school-leaving age: up to 12 hours a week in term time (2 on school days and Sundays; 8 on Saturdays), or 35 hours in school holidays (8 on weekdays/Saturdays; 2 on Sundays). No work during school hours or before 7am or after 7pm. Local council rules and permits may add restrictions. The dividing line is minimum school-leaving age, not whether you still attend school, sixth form or college. School-leaving dates differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England you must still stay in education or training until 18; fit work around your course and attendance requirements.
Can I get a job at 16 with no experience?: Yes — the roles that hire the most 16 year olds assume none. Supermarkets, fast food chains, cafés and cinemas train you from scratch. What gets you hired is a clear one-page CV, saying exactly when you can work, and following up after you apply.
What do I need before I can start work at 16?: You need your National Insurance number (posted automatically before your 16th birthday) and a bank account in your own name for payroll. That's it — no parental consent form is legally required, though some employers ask for one anyway.
Is an apprenticeship a better option than a part-time job at 16?: They solve different things. A part-time job gives you weekend money now; an apprenticeship is a full-time paid route into a career with a qualification attached. You can do a part-time job while looking for an apprenticeship — Shine lists both near you.

Part of Shine's apprenticeship guide series, plain-English answers, updated regularly.

See live jobs open to 16 year olds near you

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