1. Living and working in the UK
Name: Helen Giles
UK EURES Adviser South West England
Copies of the presentation are available – if not, you can me and I will forward it to you.
Handouts with useful websites, including the websites mentioned in the presentation will also be given out/can be ed to you

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

3. United Kingdom - UK England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Population 61 million
ILO Unemployment rate 7.9%
2.47 million unemployed
Language spoken English
Welsh
Currency – British pound £
claimant unemployment was 1,607.4 thousand in August 2009, up 24.4 thousand on the level in July, and up thousand on the year.
2.47 million people were ILO unemployed in the May to July quarter, up by 210 thousand on the February to April period and up 743 thousand on the same quarter last year.
the ILO unemployment rate is 7.9%, up 0.7 percentage points on the quarter and up 2.3 percentage points on the year.
Living and working in the UK

4. PES in the UK Self service kiosks Great Britain
Tel:
Northern Ireland
Tel:
Self service kiosks
PES – Public Employment Services
GB is England Scotland and Wales – 900 Jobcentreplus offices
NI – 35 jobcentres
Jobseeker Direct Helpline,
May wish to mention FAS – Rep of Ireland’s PES website
Living and working in the UK

5. Job opportunities in UK skills shortage occupations
Managers in Construction
Civil/ Chemical/ Aircraft Manufacturing Engineers
Physicists, Geologists, Meteorologists
Doctors and Dentists
Vets
Various Health Care Professionals
(including Radiographers, Psychologists and Biochemists)
Secondary Maths / Science Teachers
Highly skilled Ballet Dancers / Contemporary Dancers
Chefs/ Cooks
Care Assistants/ Home Carers
Pipe Fitters
This list of occupations is from the HO, UK Government – tier 2 PBS. These job positions are identified as the current Skill shortages in the UK
Strongly advised to secure a job before coming to the UK
English is essential to work in the UK
It is more difficult to find jobs due to the economic problem throughout the world; Competition is high
However UK companies want the best person for the job. UK is a multi cultural society, a diverse workforce
Living and working in the UK

6. The resident labour market test – tier 2 of the Work Permits Points Based System (PBS).
Non-European nationals can only come to work in the United Kingdom if there are no suitable European Economic Area/Swiss workers available to fill the job.
The resident labour market test must be met by the employer before they can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to a non-European (Third Country National).
This list of occupations is from the HO, UK Government. These job positions are identified as the current Skill shortages in the UK
Strongly advised to secure a job before coming to the UK
English is essential to work in the UK
It is more difficult to find jobs due to the economic problem throughout the world; Competition is high
However UK companies want the best person for the job. UK is a multi cultural society, a diverse workforce
Living and working in the UK

7. Job vacancies on the EURES Portal
This list of occupations is from the HO, UK Government. These job positions are identified as the current Skill shortages in the UK
Strongly advised to secure a job before coming to the UK
English is essential to work in the UK
It is more difficult to find jobs due to the economic problem throughout the world; Competition is high
However UK companies want the best person for the job. UK is a multi cultural society, a diverse workforce
Living and working in the UK

8. Graduates
Average Graduate wage is £27,000 according to or £25,000 according to Association of Graduate Recruiters (both 2009 figures).
– Graduate Careers site
– jobs in Northern Ireland
Again, competition is high These are just some of the useful graduate job searching websites
Handout: job searching websites for Jobseekers and Graduates contains many more.
Living and working in the UK

9. Employment law National Minimum Wage – new rates October
Working week hours +
Holiday entitlement 25 days +
Wage/Salary is paid monthly or weekly
20 minute rest break for 6 hours +
NMW £5.80 (22 years+) £4.83 (18-21) £
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.
From 1 April 2009 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
Living and working in the UK

10. National insurance number
Required for paying social security contributions
Apply as soon as you start work
Tel: or Tel: (NI)
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
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.
Living and working in the UK

11. Self-employed people pay their own tax www.hmrc.gov.uk
Income tax
Basic rate: 20% £0 - £37,400
Higher rate: 40% £37,400 +
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
Living and working in the UK

12. 11 % deducted if you earn above £110 - £844 plus
National insurance
11 % deducted if you earn above £110 - £844 plus
1 % of earnings above £844 per week
Self-employed people pay their own NIC
Another deduction from your wage is National Insurance contributions NICs (contributes towards NHS, social benefits if required, and state pension)
Living and working in the UK

13. E Forms European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) formally, E111
E301 – records your social security contributions
E303 – used to transfer your unemployment benefit from one country to another, within the EEA.
These E Forms are the most commonly used/recognised in the EU/EEA
EHIC – entitles you to Free NHS healthcare in the UK
E301 – records your social security/national insurance contributions – this info enables an assessment of entitlement to unemployed benefits – should you move to another EEA country to look for work
E303 – Must be claiming U/E benefits for 4 weeks in your own country before transferring your benefits to another EEA country while you look for work. You can claim u/e benefits using the E303 for a maximum of 3 months; your benefits will be paid at the rate of your own country
E301 + E303 go together
Living and working in the UK

14. 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)
Tel:
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, and soon
Scotland
NI prescriptions are 3 pounds. England is the only region of the UK where persons have to pay the full, £7.10 per medicine
Living and working in the UK

15. Living in the UK Apartments/Flats: £450 - £600 = (€ 481-642)
Houses: £500- £800 = (€ £856)
Rooms: £200-£350 = (€ £374)
One month’s rent required in advance as a deposit
Council Tax
(council tax)
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 may be included in your rent. Check with your landlord
Living and working in the UK

16. Living expenses Bread - £1.50 = € 1.60 Milk 1l - £1.00 = € 1.07
Fast food restaurant meal - £3.79 = €4.05
Cigarettes (20) £5.70 = € 6.09
Beer 568ml (1 pint) - £3.00 = € 3.21
Cinema ticket £6.00 = €6.42
Bus/Train, short journey, (single) £1.50 = €1.60
1 pound = 1.07 euro
1 euro = .89 pence
Add in the Currency of the country
Ask the audience if prices are similar or not?
Living and working in the UK

17. Looking for work UK newspapers (online) Company websites PES UK
Private recruitment agencies (free service)
EURES
Other mediums for jobsearching in the UK
Refer again to Handout: document of useful UK job searching websites for Jobseekers and Graduates
Handout: top 100 UK companies with Graduate opportunities (and other, lower level jobs too)
Living and working in the UK

18. The EURES portal Search for a job Register your CV online
Make contact with EURES advisers
Labour market information
Living and working conditions
Education
Graduate forum
800, Jobs on the EURES portal
700+ EURES advisers contact details. Advisers are located throughout the 30 countries of the EU/EEA + Switzerland
Register your CV online for employers to access
L+W conditions, social security, healthcare, taxation
Studying, learning, training opportunities in other EEA countries
Living and working in the UK

19. Job application process
Curriculum Vitae – C V
2 pages, typed
Create a CV to match the job
Application letter
Company application forms (sometimes online)
Interviews
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
Living and working in the UK

20. Education - Qualifications
For UK recognition of qualifications, contact NARIC
English language test is required to study in the UK
Learning the language
University courses in the UK
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
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
Living and working in the UK

21. Work placement opportunities
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
Living and working in the UK

22. Questions…….. Helen.giles1@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
Copies of the presentation are available – if not, you can send me an and I will forward it to you.
Handouts with useful websites on living and working in the UK, including websites mentioned in the presentation are also available/ will be ed to you