Living and working in
the United Kingdom
October 2014
What do you think of when you think of the UK?
London ?
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London is great but don’t forget the rest!
Edinburgh
Newcastle
Belfast
Cardiff
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Background information to working in the UK
Labour Market information
Looking for work
Working conditions
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The United Kingdom
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 £
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The
UK Labour Market Statistics
Job Market
• UK unemployment rate 6.0%
• Employment rate 73%
• 1.97 million unemployed (Oct 2014- largest annual fall on record)
• 674,000 unfilled vacancies (24%- largest increase on year)
• 733,000 16 – 24 yr olds unemployed (468,000 not in FTE )
• 95,000 redundancies – June to August 2014 (pre-recession levels)
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Shortage Occupations
• Nurses (operating
theatres and neonatal
intensive care units)
• Skilled Chefs
• Social Workers
• Electrical Engineers
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More Shortage Occupations
• Secondary education science and maths teachers (children 11-16 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
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Where to look for work
• EURES
• Jobsfairs
• UK newspapers (online)
• Company websites
• Private recruitment agencies
• Online agencies / jobsites
• Public employment services – Department for Employment &
Learning / Jobcentre Plus
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Public Employment services in the UK
• Great Britain - Jobcentre Plus
• Northern Ireland - Department for Employment and Learning (DEL)
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Education / Qualifications
•
For UK recognition of qualifications, contact NARIC
www.naric.org.uk/
•
Learning the language – The British Council
www.britishcouncil.org/
•
University courses in the UK – Prospects
www.prospects.ac.uk
•
To study in the UK at undergraduate / post graduate level you
will need good English language skills
•
Internships
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Job application process
•
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)
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Employment Law
National Minimum Wage – three different rates, current as of 1st
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 2010 - law to protect against discrimination
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National Insurance Number
Required to pay social security contributions in the UK
Apply just before or as soon as you start work:
Call 0845 600 0643 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)
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Income Tax
•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)
www.hmrc.gov.uk
•
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Living in the UK
Healthcare
Accommodation
Cost of living
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What might be the best thing about living in the UK?
The weather……..that’s probably unlikely!
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The food?
Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding?
Fish and chips?
Indian cuisine?
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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 will have to pay in England (Free in
Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland)
Before coming to the UK, make sure you have a EHIC
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Accommodation
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.
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Cost of living – UK shopping basket (average)
Living expenses
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Bread (800 grams)
Butter
Eggs (6 large free range)
Milk, 2.24 litres (4 pints)
Pint of beer (568ml)
Cigarettes
Cinema ticket
Bus
Petrol, 1 litre
£1.30
£1.50
£1.80
£1.30
£3.20
£7.50
£8.00
£2.00
£1.46
€ 1.51
€ 1.75
€ 2.10
€ 1.51
€ 3.72
€ 7.56
€ 9.31
€ 2.33
€ 1.70
1 pound = 1.16 euro
1 euro = 85 pence
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Thank you!
Any Questions?
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