Anti-Child Labour Policy

Draft for client review

Status: Working draft dated 20 July 2026. This policy has been prepared from current official UK guidance for Bruce Penny to review. It is not yet an approved company policy.

Before approval, confirm that the responsibilities and working arrangements below match current practice. Professional legal or safety advice should be obtained where needed.

1. Purpose and scope

This policy applies to Penny Tree Surgery, its owner, workers, trainees, agency workers, subcontractors and any person acting on its behalf. We expect suppliers and business partners to follow equivalent standards where relevant to the work they carry out for us.

2. Our commitment

Penny Tree Surgery will not employ or benefit from child labour. We distinguish prohibited child labour from lawful, properly supervised education, work experience and youth employment. Every arrangement involving a person under 18 must comply with UK law and protect their education, health, safety, dignity and development.

Children below the minimum school leaving age will not be employed in our operational tree surgery, landscaping, construction or machinery work. Any lawful school-arranged work experience must be agreed in advance, risk assessed and limited to suitable supervised activities.

3. Hazardous work and young people

No person under 18 will carry out hazardous work unless it is legally permitted, necessary for recognised training, assessed as suitable for that individual and supervised by a competent person. Penny Tree Surgery will not permit children to operate or assist with machinery.

• Climbing, aerial tree work, tree felling and work at height.
• Operating chainsaws, chippers, stump grinders, excavators, lifting equipment or other high-risk machinery.
• Exposure to uncontrolled noise, vibration, hazardous substances, extreme conditions or traffic movement.
• Work beyond the young person’s physical or psychological capacity, competence or maturity.

4. Recruitment, training and supervision

Age and right-to-work checks will be completed lawfully before employment. Where a young person is engaged, the existing risk assessment will be reviewed for their inexperience, maturity, physical capability, training needs and ability to recognise risk. They will receive clear induction, instruction, appropriate protective equipment and effective supervision.

Working hours, rest breaks, night work, education or training obligations and any required local authority permissions must be checked before work begins.

5. Supply chain and reporting

Suppliers and subcontractors must not use child labour or place young people in prohibited hazardous work. Where age, working conditions or recruitment arrangements create a concern, Penny Tree Surgery may request evidence and pause the relevant work while the concern is assessed.

A concern must be reported immediately to Bruce Penny or under the Whistleblowing Policy. We will prioritise the safety and welfare of the child or young person and contact the appropriate authority where required.

6. Responsibility and review

Bruce Penny has overall responsibility for approving any placement or employment involving a person under 18. This policy and the related risk controls will be reviewed annually and before any young person starts work or work experience.

7. Official guidance used

Child employment guidance on GOV.UK

HSE guidance on young people at work and the law

HSE guidance on managing risks to young people