October 2014 Living and working in the United Kingdom

Jobcentre Plus What do you think of when you think of the UK? London ?

Jobcentre Plus London is great but don’t forget the rest! EdinburghNewcastle BelfastCardiff

Jobcentre Plus Background information to working in the UK Labour Market information Looking for work Working conditions

Jobcentre Plus England London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bristol, Nottingham, Oxford Scotland Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen Wales Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth, Bangor Northern Ireland Belfast, Londonderry/Derry Population: 63million Languages: English, Welsh Currency: British pound £ The United Kingdom

Jobcentre Plus UK unemployment rate 6.0% Employment rate 73% 1.97 million unemployed (Oct largest annual fall on record) 674,000 unfilled vacancies (24%- largest increase on year) 733, – 24 yr olds unemployed (468,000 not in FTE ) 95,000 redundancies – June to August 2014 (pre-recession levels) Job Market The UK Labour Market Statistics

Jobcentre Plus Nurses (operating theatres and neonatal intensive care units) Shortage Occupations Skilled Chefs Social Workers Electrical Engineers

Jobcentre Plus Secondary education science and maths teachers (children years old) Teachers in special schools Doctors (certain specialisms only) Nurses (operating theatres and neonatal intensive care units) Medical radiographers Engineers – Chemical / Mechanical / Civil Graphic Designers Pipe Welders (high integrity with 3 years+ experience) Biological scientists / Biochemists Skilled musicians/ dancers / animators More Shortage Occupations

Jobcentre Plus EURES Jobsfairs UK newspapers (online) Company websites Private recruitment agencies Online agencies / jobsites Public employment services – Department for Employment & Learning / Jobcentre Plus Where to look for work

Jobcentre Plus Great Britain - Jobcentre Plus Northern Ireland - Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) Public Employment services in the UK

Jobcentre Plus 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 Education / Qualifications

Jobcentre Plus Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) - 2 pages maximum, typed Create a CV to match the job applying for Typed application letter (covering letter) Company application forms (very often online) Please note, online applications are becoming increasingly more common in the UK and therefore it is advisable to practice online applications Interviews – it depends on the job applied for (Skype, video conferencing, via phone, face to face, panel interviews etc) Job application process

Jobcentre Plus National Minimum Wage – three different rates, current as of 1 st October 2014: £6.50 per hour - 21 years + £5.13 per hour - 18 – 20 years £3.79 per hour – under 18 years Holiday entitlement 28 days minimum (for full-time employees) Verbal / Written contracts of employment Equality Act law to protect against discrimination Employment Law

Jobcentre Plus Required to pay social security contributions in the UK Apply just before or as soon as you start work: Call to arrange an identity interview 12 % deducted from earnings between £153 - £805 plus 2 % of earnings above £805 per week Self employed people pay their own National Insurance contributions Administered by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) National Insurance Number

Jobcentre Plus Personal Allowance – £10,000 Basic rate: 20% £0 - £31,865 Higher rate: 40% £31,866 - £150,000 Additional rate: 45% over £150,000 Self employed people pay their own tax Administered by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Income Tax

Jobcentre Plus Living in the UK Healthcare Accommodation Cost of living

Jobcentre Plus What might be the best thing about living in the UK? The weather……..that’s probably unlikely!

Jobcentre Plus The food? Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding? Fish and chips? Indian cuisine?

Jobcentre Plus NHS - National Health Service Visiting a doctor is free; a visit to the dentist you have to pay Prescription medicines you will have to pay in England (Free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) Before coming to the UK, make sure you have a EHIC Healthcare in the UK

Jobcentre Plus Average monthly rental charges vary considerably depending on the region For example average rents within 12 areas within Greater London range from: £779 per month in Dartford to £1,689 per month in West London Whereas: £523 per month in North East (cheapest region in UK) £782 per month is average across the rest of the UK Deposit plus 1 month’s rent in advance Council Tax – local tax on accommodation Don’t forget other regular bills – water, sewerage, gas, electricity, telephone etc. Accommodation

Jobcentre Plus Bread (800 grams)£1.30 € 1.51 Butter£1.50 € 1.75 Eggs (6 large free range)£1.80 € 2.10 Milk, 2.24 litres (4 pints)£1.30€ 1.51 Pint of beer (568ml) £3.20 € 3.72 Cigarettes £7.50€ 7.56 Cinema ticket £8.00 € 9.31 Bus £2.00 € 2.33 Petrol, 1 litre£1.46€ pound = 1.16 euro 1 euro = 85 pence Living expenses Cost of living – UK shopping basket (average)

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