1. Living and working in the United Kingdom
MAIE WILLBERN EURES Adviser East Midlands
Turin 11th March 2011

2. What do you think of when you think of the UK?
London ?
London received 3 million visitors between April-June 2010, two-thirds were Europeans.

3. London is great but don’t forget the rest!
Edinburgh
The Lake District
Many job opportunities are outside the capital where the cost of living is less expensive.
Belfast
Cardiff

4. This presentation is to give you some of the information you will need to help decide if working in the UK is the right move for you.
Working in the UK
Information on finding a job and working conditions
Living in the UK
Information on the cost of living
You don’t need to take notes, a handout will be available afterwards containing useful websites and contact numbers.
The presentation is to give you a quick overview of living and working in the UK.

5. The job market Looking for work Working conditions
Working in the UK
The job market Looking for work Working conditions
This section will cover how to look for jobs, compare your qualifications and pay and working conditions.
I will begin with some background on the Geography and population.

6. The United Kingdom England
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield,
Newcastle, Bristol, Nottingham
Scotland
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen
Wales
Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth,
Bangor
Northern Ireland
Belfast, Londonderry/Derry
Population: 62 million
Languages: English, Welsh
Currency: British pound £
Nationality: Briton(s), British.
Major languages: English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic.
Main Religion: Church of England, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh
Major ethnic groups: Anglo-Saxons, Scots, Welsh, Irish, West Indians, Pakistanis, Indians
Total population 61,792,000 (2009)
Annual population growth rate: 0.29%. (2004 est.)
Average age: 39 years
Population density per sq.km 245
Population by region: - Scotland 5,119,000 - England 49,753,000 - Wales 2,937,000 - N. Ireland 1,692,000
Top 5 populous cities: - London 7,285,000 (London Metropolitan 12m)
- Birmingham 1,018,000 - Leeds 725,000 - Glasgow 611,000 - Sheffield 529,000
€1 = 0.88 pence / £1 = €1.14

7. Job Market The Job Market
UK unemployment rate 7.9% / employment rate 70.6%
Increase in part-time working, but not through choice
High youth unemployment ,000 (18-24)
Economy growing: more people are finding work than losing their job
But the recovery is slow and fragile (2.5 million unemployed)
Reduction in UK expenditure will lead to a decline in public sector jobs
But certain sectors still have shortages (skill shortage occupations)
JUNE TO AUGUST 2010 LABOUR MARKET SUMMARY
The unemployment rate was 7.7 per cent, down 0.1 on the quarter (5.5 in August 2008).
The number of unemployed people fell by 20,000 to 2.45 million (1.72m in July 2008).
Male unemployment fell by 56,000 to 1.44 million
Female unemployment increased by 36,000 to 1.01 million.
There were 742,000 unemployed 18 to 24 year olds up 35,000 on the previous quarter
The overall employment rate was 70.7per cent, up 0.2 on the quarter.
Employment is up 241,000 on the year but is 270,000 lower than two years previously (August 2008).
The increase in total employment was driven by part-time workers, which increased by 143,000 to 7.96 million (highest figure since comparable records began in 1992).
There were 1.14 million employees and self-employed people working part-time because they could not find a full-time job, up 65,000 on the quarter.
The number of full-time workers increased by 35,000 to million.
The number of UK born people in employment was million (April to June 2010), down 15,000 on a year earlier.
The number of non-UK born people in employment was 3.85 million, up 114,000 from a year earlier.
The number of people not active in the labour market because they were students was 2.21 million.
The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (the claimant count) increased by 5,300 (August and September 2010) to 1.47 million (905,000 in July 2008). This is the second consecutive monthly increase in the number of claimants.
The number of vacancies (July to September 2010) was 459,000, down 30,000 (613,200 in August 2008).
The sector showing the largest quarterly fall was education where the number of vacancies fell by 17,000 to reach 32,000.
The sector showing the largest increase in jobs was construction which increased by 53,000
Average gross pay (excluding bonuses, Great Britain August 2010) was £428 per week / £1,854 per month / £22,256 per annum. #
468,000 Unfilled vacancies

8. Shortage Occupations Senior care workers Skilled chefs Social workers
Electrical Engineers
Skilled senior care workers
Skilled chefs with work experience. However, hotel and catering is a high turn-over industry and jobs are always available for skilled and experienced staff.
Social workers in Children’s and family services. If you are qualified for this work, please speak to me afterwards as we are working with an agency (Jacaranda Recruitment) who will help you with your registration and the apllication procedure.
Electrical engineers (power systems). EURES UK has contact with one of the largest power companies in the UK, Doosan Power Systems (see below)
All of the graduate roles/descriptions for Doosan Power Systems 2011 intake are now on the Direct Gov website.
The reference numbers are as follows:
Graduate Engineer - Technology or Manufacturing - reference REN/17319
Graduate Engineer - Research & Development - reference REN/17313
Graduate Engineer - Operations - reference REN/17315
Graduate Engineer - Nuclear Services - reference REN/17316
Graduate Engineer - Site Operations - REN/17314
Graduate Engineer - Commissioning Services - reference CRD/71989
Graduate Programme - Business - reference REN/17318
Graduate Engineer - Welding Services - TIP/26033
All applicants should apply online via The closing date is the 1st December for all of these jobs.

9. More Shortage Occupations
Secondary education science and maths teachers (children years old)
Teachers in special schools
Doctors (accidents & emergencies)
Nurses (operating theatres and neonatal intensive care units)
Pharmacists
Veterinary surgeons
Chemical engineers
Mechanical engineers (electricity generation / transmission / distribution)
Civil engineers (geotechnical, rock/soil mechanics, tunnelling, petroleum)
Pipe Welders (high integrity with 3 years experience)
Butchers and meat cutters (skilled meat trimmer and meat boner)
For more details search the Internet for ‘UK shortage occupations list’
We currently have vacancies for Butcher de- boners throughout the UK. You do not need fluent English for this job.
Very few unskilled jobs available.

10. Education - qualifications
For UK recognition of qualifications, contact NARIC
Learning the language – The British Council
University courses in the UK – Prospects
To study in the UK at undergraduate / post graduate level you will need good English language skills
Internships
Qualifications can differ in each European country. Some qualifications are recognised throughout Europe. Harmonious training requirements throughout EU for: Nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists, architectures, vets
National Academic Recognition information Centre. There is a fee for this service and it can take 4 – 6 weeks to receive recognition of your qualifications.
In order to study in the UK, you need to take the IELTS International english language testing system course– to prove that your english language is sufficient to study in english – Prospects has more details
You can search the Complete university guide by subject and it will show all the universities in the UK that offer that subject/course
Direct.gov.uk website provides information on funding/sponsorship for courses. University websites will sometimes provide information on funding
Work placements/internships are not as popular in the UK as in other EU countries. I would advise you to explore the various UK job searching websites and make contact with companies/employers directly, sending a CV and letter, stating that you would be grateful to have an opportunity to work in their company for a period of time. Also speak to your University careers services and local employment services to find out if they are running any placement programmes (eg Leonardo) with the UK.

11. Looking for work Jobsfairs UK newspapers (online) Company websites
EURES
Jobsfairs
UK newspapers (online)
Company websites
Private recruitment agencies
Online agencies / jobsites
Public employment services
Refer to handout with website addresses

12. Employment services in the UK
Great Britain - Jobcentre Plus
Northern Ireland - Department for Employment and Learning (DEL)
Self service kiosks - Jobpoints
PES – Public Employment Services
GB is England Scotland and Wales – 900 Jobcentre Plus offices
NI – 35 jobcentres
Jobseeker Direct Helpline,
May wish to mention FAS – Rep of Ireland’s PES website

13. Job application process
Curriculum Vitae – C V 2 pages maximum, typed
Create a CV to match the job
Typed Application letter (covering letter)
Company application forms (sometimes online)
Interviews – it depends on the job applied for
CV – 2 pages to include Personal details, Qualifications and Work experience. State first (whatever is more relevant to the job you are applying), your work experience or your qualifications? Include Personal achievements, IT, Language skills… An employer will judge your CV in 20 seconds. It must make a quick impression!!
Application letters, one page, typed. A brief synopsis of your skills/experience. State when you are ready to start
Interviews are usually formal; dress smartly. There are usually 2 or more people interviewing you. Research the company before the interview.
Websites will give you samples of CVs and Letters and helpful hints on preparing for interviews

14. Employment Law Holiday entitlement 25 days +
National Minimum Wage: £5.93 per hour
Holiday entitlement 25 days +
Verbal / Written contracts
Equality Act 2010
NMW £5.93 (22 years+) £4.92 (18-21) £ If you are not being paid at least the minimum wage you should contact the Pay and Work Rights helpline (the telephone number is on the presentation handout)
If you are 18 years+ and wish to work more than 48 hours a week, you can choose to do so. This must be voluntary and put in writing to your employer.
All workers have a statutory right to at least 28 days' paid holiday if you work five days a week. Your employer could choose to include bank holidays in the 28 days
Average weekly hours worked in the three months to August 2010 were 31.6, up 0.1 from the three months to May Most people in full time employment work between hours per week.
Contracts can be verbal but you have a right to ask for a Written Statement of Employment Particulars (ie contract in writing)
Equality Act 2010
The first wave of changes arising from The Equality Act 2010 came into effect on 1 October The Act simplifies the current equality laws such as the Disability Discrimination Act and Race Relations Act and puts them together in one piece of legislation. It aims to create a single, streamlined approach to discrimination against people with different protected characteristics – although there are some exceptions.
Protected characteristics
The protected characteristics are:
age;
disability;
gender reassignment;
marriage and civil partnership;
pregnancy and maternity;
race;
religion or belief;
sex; and
sexual orientation.
Changes brought in by the Act
There have been a number of changes brought in by the Act. The key changes are:
the definitions of disability and gender reassignment have both widened, so that more people are now covered by the Act. Guidance on this will be published on our intranet site when the Act comes into force;
new forms of discrimination have been introduced. It is now illegal to discriminate against someone who is associated with a person who has one of the protected characteristics listed above, or someone who is perceived to have one of those characteristics. For example, this would mean that carers of disabled people would be protected;
third party harassment has been extended, which means that employers are potentially liable if staff are harassed by customer or clients;
the duty to provide reasonable adjustments to disabled customers has been widened.

15. National Insurance Number
Needed to pay social security contributions in the UK
Apply just before or as soon as you start work
11 % deducted from earnings between £110 - £844 plus
1 % of earnings above £844 per week
Self employed people pay their own
National Insurance contributions
This is a private, personal number; it must be kept safe at all times
If you have worked in the UK before, you will NOT need to apply for another NINO
The card shown here is not sent out anymore – all you need is the letter that tells you your number (don’t lose it!)
Both very important websites – as they link together ALL government websites, under the one site. Jobs, healthcare, taxation, driving licences, training, education, funding. A great SEARCH mechanism in both websites.
Tel: or Tel: (NI)
Deduction from your wage NICs (contributes towards NHS, social benefits if required, and state pension)

16. Income Tax Basic rate: 20% £0 - £37,400
Higher rate: 40% £37,401 - £150,000
Additional rate: 50% Over £150,000
Self employed people pay their own tax
Tax is deducted from your wages weekly or monthly. Tax Free, personal allowance of £6,475 = basic level – income limit for personal allowance = £100,000
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publish guidance on their website on all taxation matter, which you can access through Directgov

17. Example pay slip for the average UK salary
Average UK salary is £22,200 pa.
If earning 22,000 per annum, monthly take home pay will be around £1,400 per month (net salary is 75% of gross salary in this example but it will depend on your pension arrangements).
Employers have withdrawn many final salary schemes and workers are being asked to contribute more towards their pensions.

18. Accommodation Healthcare Cost of living
Living in the UK
Accommodation Healthcare Cost of living
This section will cover the cost of accommodation, a bit about healthcare and the cost of living.
I’ll start with a question though….

19. What might be the worst thing about living in the UK?
[Begin this section by saying] before looking at the cost of accommodation I’m going to ask what you think would be the worst thing about living in the UK [ask for responses from the audience, when someone mentions weather, click forward once to show “the weather”, and click again to show first photo]:
Yes, It does rain a lot in the UK and summers can seem very short. In recent years, the threat of flooding has increased in some areas. We had major floods in 2007 and to a lesser extent in 2009.
[Click to next photo showing flood scene in Oxford]
But our temperate climate means we rarely suffer from extremes of temperature. In most parts of the country the winter temperature is normally above 0°C and the summer temperature is below 25°C. But do bring an umbrella!
the weather ?

20. Living in the UK Accommodation Average monthly rental charges:
Apartments/Flats: £450 - £600 = (€ )
Houses: £500 - £800 = (€570 - £912)
Rooms: £200 - £350 = (€228 - £399)
Deposit + 1 month’s rent in advance
Council Tax – local tax on accommodation
Bills– water, gas, electricity & telephone
Houses/flats can be furnished on unfurnished (Costs are per month)
When looking for accommodation (to rent or purchase a home), search for “Estate Agents” online
Large cities such as London can be expensive to live in, and difficult to find accommodation. Some people tend to live outside the city
Question the audience – are the costs higher or lower than their country?
Council Tax is paid to the council where you live - to pay for local services like rubbish/refuse collection…
The amount you pay depends on your accommodation value and family/personal circumstances. Council tax for an average property is approximately £100 per month (€107)
Council Tax / utility bills may be included in your rent. Check with your landlord

21. Healthcare in the UK NHS - National Health Service
Visiting a doctor is free; a visit to the dentist you have to pay
Prescription medicines you may have to pay (depending on where you reside in the UK)
Before coming to the UK, make sure you have a EHIC
NHS Hospital treatment is FREE
If you are Employed/working, you will have to pay for:
Spectacles, dental treatment and sometimes medical Prescriptions. Prescription charges vary, depending on where you live in the UK. Some regions provide FREE medical prescriptions such as Wales,
Scotland charge £3 from April 2010 (currently £4)
NI prescriptions are £3 but free from April England is the only region of the UK where persons have to pay the full, £7.20 per medicine
EHIC – European Health Insurance Card

22. Cost of living – what UK households spend their money on
CPI – Consumer Prices Index
Average household expenditure per week (2003/4 – 2005/6) UK £432, London £500, North East £352
In 2008, UK Gross Disposable Household Income per head (per annum) was £14,872 (£286 per week), at the top was London 28 per cent above the UK average at £19,038 (£366pw), while at the bottom, the North East of England was almost 16 per cent below at £12,543 (£241pw).
This table shows you what UK household’s spend their income on. It is shown as a percentage of total expenditure in the second column. The third column shows if the percentage spent in 2010 is low, high or medium in relation to (figures were compiled in March 2010).
The ‘shopping basket’ of items making up the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and Retail Prices Index (RPI) are reviewed each year. Around 180,000 separate price quotations are used every month in compiling the indices, covering over 650 representative consumer goods and services for which prices are collected in 150 areas throughout the UK.
Source: Consumer Prices Index and Retail Prices Index: The 2010 Basket of Goods and Services, Office for National Statistics

23. Living expenses Cost of living – UK shopping basket
Bread (800 grams) £ ↑ € 1.14
Butter £1.30 ↑ € 1.48
Eggs (6 large free range) £1.61 ↑ € 1.83
Milk, 2.24 litres (4 pints) £1.25 € 1.43
Pint of beer (568ml) £ € 3.42
Cigarettes £6.00 € 6.84
Cinema ticket £ € 6.84
Bus £ € 1.71
Petrol, 1 litre £1.13 € 1.28
1 pound = 1.14 euro
1 euro = 88 pence
Public transport is, on the whole, more expensive than most European countries, particularly train travel, which should be booked well in advance (off peak if possible).
The cost of gas and electricity has risen and food prices are rising above inflation.

24. What is the most popular meal in the UK?
Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding?
Fish and chips?
[light-hearted way to end the presentation] And finally a pub quiz question for you…..
What is the most popular meal in the UK today? [either allow audience to make suggestions or show first two images, then the third when you reveal the answer]
The British are known for traditional meals like fish and chips and roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, but the most popular meal in the UK is now chicken tikka Masala. Cultural diversity has brought cuisines from around the world to the UK and the quality and variety of restaurants in all cities and most towns has greatly improved over the years.
Nation’s top ten cuisines (Sharwood’s survey 2010)
Chinese
Indian
British
Italian
Thai
American
Mexican
Japanese
Greek
French
Indian cuisine?

25. Your questions ? Maie.willbern@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Copies of the presentation handouts with website addresses for finding more detailed information on living and working in the UK, including the services mentioned in the presentation, are available here or from the UK stand in the exhibition hall.
Thank you

26. Work placement opportunities
Please collect your Living and working in the UK presentation handout
Thank you!