Rethinking work for 13–15 year olds in London.
A half-day public symposium and the launch of Second Corner — a serious conversation about when teen work helps, when it harms, and what good practice looks like.
Purpose
The symposium launches Second Corner alongside a serious public conversation about teen work in the UK. The day leaves attendees with a shared view of when work helps a 13–15 year old develop, when it harms, and what good practice looks like.
It also lands at a moment. The Milburn review has put NEETs — over a million 16–24 year olds out of work and education, costing the UK an estimated £125bn a year — back at the centre of national debate. Second Corner believes the earliest steps onto the work ladder happen at 13–15 — and that's exactly where opportunity is scarce. The symposium is a constructive response to that moment.
Agenda
A short opening frame from the founders. Why teen work, why now: the Milburn review put NEETs — over a million 16–24 year olds out of work and education, costing the UK an estimated £125bn a year — at the centre of national debate. We argue that 13–15 is where the entry-level ladder actually begins, and where the country has stopped building rungs. This sets up the day.
We start with young people. What they're already doing for money, what they wish existed, and what 'safe paid work' should actually look like from their side. Adults listen first.
The current legal framework for under-16 work, the risk taxonomy and what good safeguarding actually looks like in practice.
A constructive response to the Milburn moment. What the evidence says age-appropriate paid work does — and doesn't do — for development, school attainment and mental health, and how earlier exposure to work could shift the NEET pipeline. A mix of evidence and lived experience, with room for disagreement.
Audience
Note: we are currently inviting guest speakers. The names and organisations listed below are indicative of the audience and panel mix we are building — not yet confirmed.
Help us shape the room
Know someone whose voice belongs in this conversation — a researcher, practitioner, employer, young person, policymaker? Tell us who and why.
Early interest now open
~70 seats, half a day. Early interest is non-binding — we'll confirm final details and send a formal invite once locked in.