Living and Working in the United Kingdom Celia Pappas UK EURES Adviser 16th October 2010 Budapest

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

What do you think of when you think of the UK? the food ?

What do you think of when you think of the UK? the weather ?

Presentation objective The aim of this presentation is to give you some of the information you will need to help decide whether working in the UK is the right move for you.

The United Kingdom England – London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham Scotland – Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen Wales – Cardiff, Swansea, Aberystwyth, Bangor Northern Ireland – Belfast, Londonderry/Derry Population almost 62 million Languages spoken – English, Welsh Currency – British pound £ *5% on Jobseekers Allowance Scotland population 5.17 million which is 9% of UK population

The Job Market Job Market Unemployment rate 7.8% Increase in Part time vacancies High Youth unemployment Less Graduate vacancies Decline in public sector jobs Certain sectors still have shortages *5% on Jobseekers Allowance Scotland 8.9% London 9.2% N.E. 9.1% Y&H 9.1%

Shortage Occupations Senior Care Assistants 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 Senior Care Assistants

Shortage Occupations Skilled Chefs/Cooks

Shortage Occupations Social Workers in children’s and family services

Shortage Occupations 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 Also includes: pharmacists, consultant Drs, ballet dancers, maths & science teachers and special needs teachers, managers in Construction, physicists, geologists and meteorologists. 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 Chemical / Mechanical /Electrical / Civil Engineers

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, your English language will need to be of a good standard 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

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 Other mediums for job searching in the UK Refer again to Handout: document of useful UK job searching websites for Jobseekers and Graduates Handout: Top 100 UK companies 2009- 2010 with Graduate opportunities (and other, lower level jobs too)

Employment services in the UK Great Britain - Jobcentre Plus Northern Ireland - Department for Education 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 www.fas.ie

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

Working conditions

Employment Law Holiday entitlement 25 days + National Minimum Wage: £5.93 per hour aged 22+ Holiday entitlement 25 days + Verbal / Written contracts Equality Act 2010 NMW £5.93 (22 years+) £4.92 (18-21) £3.64 16+17 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

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 NIC 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 www.direct.gov.uk www.nidirect.gov.uk 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: 0845 6000 643 or Tel: 02890 545500 (NI) Deduction from your wage NICs (contributes towards NHS, social benefits if required, and state pension)

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

Living in the UK

Living Expenses 1 pound = 1.14 euro 1 euro = 88 pence Bread - £1.50 = € 1.71 Milk 1l - £1.00 = € 1.14 ‘Fast-food’ restaurant meal - £3.79 = €4.32 Cigarettes (20) £6.00 = € 6.84 1 pound = 1.14 euro 1 euro = 88 pence Add in the Currency of the country Ask the audience if prices are similar or not?

Living expenses 1 euro = 88 pence Cinema ticket £6.00 = €6.84 Pint of beer (568ml) - £3.00 = € 3.42 Cinema ticket £6.00 = €6.84 Bus/Train, short journey, (single) £1.50 = €1.71 1 pound = 1.14 euro 1 euro = 88 pence Add in the Currency of the country Ask the audience if prices are similar or not?

Accommodation Living in the UK Average monthly rental charges: Apartments/Flats: £450 - £600 = (€ 481-642) Houses: £500 - £800 = (€ 535 - £856) Rooms: £200 - £350 = (€ 214 - £374) One month’s rent required in advance as a deposit Council Tax – local tax on accommodation Utility 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

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 2010. England is the only region of the UK where persons have to pay the full, £7.20 per medicine EHIC – European Health Insurance Card

Your questions ? Celia.pappas@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk Copies of the presentation are available – if not, you can send me an email 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 emailed to you

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