Living and working in the UK Alison Carmichael UK EURES Adviser September 2008 www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Living and working in the UK Employment law Living in the UK Looking for work

United Kingdom England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Population - 61 million Unemployment varies across the UK average is 5% Language - English Welsh is spoken in some parts of Wales

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is part of the UK. The public employment service is: The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) www.jobcentreonline.com The Republic of Ireland is not part of the UK.The public employment service is: FAS - the Training and Employment Authority www.fas.ie Other useful sites for Northern Ireland include: www.jobsnation.co.uk www.dfes.gov.uk/europeanopen

Job opportunities Opportunities vary across the country, but include: Construction middle & upper management roles i.e. Quantity Surveyors, Estimators, Project Managers Opportunities are mainly in London & South East Dentists, Pharmacists, Specialist Nurses Drivers – buses, heavy goods vehicles Chefs and hotel workers Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical vacancies Engineering Use the notes to give more details plus regional information Opportunities are currently limited in the public health sector. However, there are opportunities in the private healthcare sector, particularly looking after elderly people.

Jobcentre Plus Strongly advise people not to come to the UK if they do not have a job to start Good English is essential to work in the UK Search for jobs online Call the telephone jobs service, Jobseeker Direct +44 (0) 845 6060 234 Jobcentre Plus offices are self-service with Jobpoint computers www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk There are a number of agencies in the UK who recruit from Europe. Jobcentre plus cannot recommend particular private employment agencies.

Looking for work UK newspapers have internet jobs sites www.wrx.zen.co.uk Visit company websites for job vacancies, company application forms and company information Private agencies – many are registered with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation www.rec.uk.com It is illegal for UK agencies to charge you a fee to find a job Private agencies are an important source of jobs in the UK. Details can be found under Employment Agencies or Personnel Consultants in the Yellow Pages www.yell.com. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation site http://rec.bucksnet.co.uk/search allows you to search for agencies by employment type/activity or by the name of the company. Newspapers are an important medium for job hunters in the UK. Listed below are newspaper websites that feature vacancy details. Guardian www.jobsunlimited.co.uk Daily Telegraph www.jobs.telegraph.co.uk Evening Standard www.londonjobs.co.uk Financial Times http://ftjobs.ft.com Local/regional papers Scotsman www.careers.scotsman.com   These newspapers, along with the Times and the Independent advertise professional appointments in teaching, business, law and social work. Local newspapers carry advertisements for all types of local jobs. Speculative applications and searching through other employment websites such as www.fish4jobs.co.uk and company websites are further useful jobsearch techniques. All Trades Unions belong to the TUC. The TUC website is www.tuc.org.uk.

Employment conditions and law National Minimum Wage is: £5.73 per hour for over 22 years, (£229 per week for 40hrs / €275) £4.77 per hour 18 – 21 years approx (£191 per week / €229) Working week on average is 37- 48 hours Minimum holiday is 4.8 weeks (24 days if you work a 5 day week) Your wage is usually paid monthly into a bank account 20 minute rest break is allowed if you work more than 6 hours each day www.berr.gov.uk www.acas.org.uk National Minimum Wage Helpline: 0845 600 0678 Home > Business Advice > National Minimum Wage > WHAT IS THE National Minimum Wage? National Minimum Wage The National Minimum Wage helpline on Tel 0845 600 0678. The National Minimum Wage will increase again in October 2007 The minimum wage is a legal right which covers almost all workers above compulsory school leaving age. There are different minimum wage rates for different groups of workers as follows: On 1 October 2007 the main rate will increase to £5.52 (226.32czk) The development rate for 18-21 year olds will increase on 1 October 2007 to £4.60 189 CZK Its important to understand that ofsets apply for accommodation purposes but there are legal limits to offsets. Average Working week is 37-40 hours. Maximum is 48 Minimum holiday is four weeks/20 days/bank holidays For further information about employment legislation in the UK the Department of Trade and Industry. Their Advice, Conciliation and Arbitration Service – ACAS 0- offer advice to employers and employees about all aspects of employment law. They helpline is 0800 xxxxxxxx www.dti.gov.uk www.acas.org.uk ACAS can give advice if you think you are being treated unfairly You have the right to join a Trade Union but there is not always a Trade Union in all workplaces All Trades Unions belong to the TUC. The TUC website is www.tuc.org.uk. Gangmasters – be aware of GLA.

Income Tax Tax is deducted from wages every week or month Tax is 20% of gross income 40% on earnings of over £36,000 (€43,200) Self-employed people pay their own tax P86 form on entry to UK, P85 on exit to claim tax refund www.hmrc.gov.uk PAYE - Pay As You Earn system - Employers deduct tax from wages You can earn £4,895 before you pay tax. How much you pay depends on your wages. Starting rate 10% £0 - 2,090 Basic rate 22% £2,091 - 32,400 Higher rate 40% Over £32,400 Self-employed people pay their own tax and National Insurance Visit Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at www.hmrc.gov.uk The tax year is April to March Forms: P86 is issued when you arrive in the UK P85 is issued when you leave in the UK P45 is issued when you leave a job in the UK P60 is issued at the end of each tax year (April)when you arrive in the UK

Council Tax Council Tax is paid to the council where you live, to pay for local services The amount you pay depends on your accommodation and family circumstances. Council tax for an average property is approximately £100 per month (€120) Council Tax may be included in your rent. Check with your landlord

National Insurance National Insurance is deducted from wages (11%) The amount you pay depends on how much you earn Self-employed people must pay their own National Insurance National Insurance Contributions are a tax on income to pay for social security and welfare benefits and pensions Employers also pay National Insureance for each employee

National Insurance Numbers Everyone working in the UK has a National Insurance number (NI No.) You must apply for a number when you start work If you have worked in the UK before, you do not need a new number Phone 0845 600 0643 to apply (Great Britain) In Northern Ireland, contact the Jobcentre www.dwp.gov.uk There is now a single national number to ring. They will arrange to send the application form and arrange an interview.

Workers Registration Scheme You must register within 30 days of starting work Registration costs £90 Guidance in Hungarian available www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk + 44 114 207 6022

Example of weekly earnings If you earn £229 (€275) p/w, your employer will deduct approx: Income Tax £25 (€32) National Insurance £14 (€17) You will receive £190 (€233) Living expenses could include: Rent (room) £40 (€48) Council Tax £25 (€30) Travel £10 (€12) Food / entertainment £50 (€60) … but you may have to spend more – particularly in London!

Benefit Information Child Benefit www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit Working Tax Credit – further information at www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits Housing Benefit –leaflet HBA5DWP “Help with Your Rent” Council Tax Benefit – leaflet CTA5DWP further information at www.dwp.gov.uk

Accommodation Flats one bedroomed – furnished and unfurnished £400 - £550 per month (€480 - €600) Houses one bedroomed - furnished and unfurnished £450 - £700 per month (€540 - €840) Rooms £250 - £400 per month (€240 - €420) You pay one month’s rent before you move in and usually 1 month’s deposit Large cities are more expensive and accommodation can be difficult to find

Shopping basket Bread £1.00 €1.20 Milk 3.41litres £1.90 €2.30 Sandwich £2.50 €3.00 Cup of coffee £1.80 €2.15 Cigarettes £5.50 €6.60 Pint of beer in pub £3.00 €3.60 Chocolate bar £0.60 €0.74 Fish and chips £5.50 €6.60 Cinema ticket £6.00 €7.20 Short bus journey £1.50 €1.80 Football match £15 - £100 €18 – €120 Remember you will need to extra money when you first arrive in the UK 6 eggs: 0.70p – 29 CZK Chicken: £3.50 – 144 CZK 500g minced beef: £3.98 – 163.18 CZK Bottle of wine from: £3.00 – 123 CZK Bus journey: £2- £3 per day 84-123CZK Petrol: 0.95p per litre 39 CZK Train from London to Edinburgh: £20-70 820 – 2870 CZK Coach from London to Edinburgh/Glasgow: £20 820CZK REMEMBER NO SMOKING IN INDOOR PUBLIC PLACES FROM 1 JULY 2007

Health You need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to use the UK National Health Service (NHS) You can see an NHS doctor without paying You can get NHS hospital treatment without paying Prescribed medicines cost £7.10 (€8.50) per item You will have to pay for spectacles and dental treatment www.dh.gov.uk NHS Direct 0845 46 47 NHS – National Health Service – free healthcare for people living in the UK. NHS Dentists are hard to find in the UK. Most dentists are private and charge more. Department of Health - www.dh.gov.uk NHS Direct is a free telephone service to call if you are ill and do not know what to do. They will advice you to go to a doctor or a hospital – or how to care for yourself. 0845 46 47

Graduates Good written and spoken English is essential It is hard to find media jobs Competition is very high Graduate vacancies are declining (more competition) Many employers do not understand foreign qualifications The UK does not have many work placement opportunities www.prospects.ac.uk The ability to speak English is essential for most vacancies in the UK and at graduate level you would probably be expected to be fluent IT sector is still experiencing growth however this is slowing down compared to the previous 10 years Increased numbers of young people in the UK are entering tertiary or higher education and therefore competition is very high. The number of graduate vacancies is declining as many companies are recruiting at entry-level positions. NARIC will do a comparison of your qualifications for a fee Because the UK does not have many intern opportunities, you may need to apply direct to employers to see if they are interested The British council may by able to help – www.britishcouncil.org.uk

Qualifications and degrees Qualifications can differ in each European country Some qualifications are recognised across the Europe Some professional people must apply for UK recognition The National Academic Recognition Information Centre, NARIC can compare your qualifications. You will need to pay for this service. www.naric.org.uk Teachers require Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) - the UK Government's professional standard for teaching - to work in England and Wales. There is an agreement in place to recognise teaching qualifications across the EU. For information on accredited EU qualifications and to obtain the QTS application form (EC1) contact the GTCE (General Teaching Council for England). E-mail: info@gtce.org.uk Tel: 0870 001 0308 A website aimed at overseas teachers is www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachinginengland   The Teacher Training Agency site www.canteach.gov.uk contains useful information on teaching with links to other sites of interest to teachers. Recruitment of teachers in the UK is carried out individually by schools, or in some cases, through a local education authority pool. Other useful sites include include: www.tesjobs.co.uk, www.prospects.ac.uk, http://education.guardian.co.uk www.schoolsnet.com and www.iloveteaching.com www.tta.gov.uk

Any questions? Alison Carmichael EURES Adviser Location: Scotland Phone: 0044 (0) 131 456 3359 Email: alison.carmichael @jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk