Living and working in the United Kingdom

1. Living and working in the United Kingdom October 2013

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

3. London is great but don’t forget the rest! Edinburgh Newcastle Belfast Cardiff

4. Background information to working in the UK Labour Market informationLooking for workWorking conditions

5. 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 £

6. The U.K Labour Market Statistics – Latest figures (quarter to July 2013) Job Market • UK unemployment rate 7.7% - June to August 2013 (down 0.1%) • Employment rate 71.7% - June to August 2013 (up 0.3%) • 2.49 million unemployed in total 16 yrs + June to August 2013 • 541,000 unfilled vacancies to September 2013 up 14,000 • 958,000 16 – 24 yr olds unemployed and not in FTE – June to August • 132,000redundancies – June to August 2013 Selected EU & International Unemployment Rate Comparisons: • EU average 11% - July 2013 • EU lowest is Austria at4.8% - July 2013 • Japan 3.8% - July 2013 • USA 7.3% - August 2013

7. Nurses (operating theatres and neonatal intensive care units) Shortage Occupations • Skilled Chefs • Social Workers • Electrical Engineers

8. 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 More Shortage Occupations

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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) • Companyapplication 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)

13. Employment Law National Minimum Wage – three different rates, current as of 1st October 2013: • £6.31per hour - 21 years + • £5.03per hour - 18 – 20 years • £3.72per 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

14. 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 £149 - £797 plus • 2 % of earnings above £797 per week • Self employed people pay their own National Insurance contributions • Administered by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) www.hmrc.gov.uk

15. Income Tax • Personal Allowance – £9,440 • Basic rate: 20%£0 - £32,010 • Higher rate: 40%£32,011 - £150,000 • Additional rate: 45%£150,001 and above • Self employed people pay their own tax • Administered by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) www.hmrc.gov.uk

16. Living in the UK HealthcareAccommodation Cost of living

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

18. The food? Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding? Fish and chips? Indian cuisine?

19. 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

20. 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.

21. Living expenses Cost of living – UK shopping basket (average) • 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 £6.50 € 7.56 • Cinema ticket £8.00 € 9.31 • Bus £2.00 € 2.33 • Petrol, 1 litre £1.46 € 1.70 1 pound = 1.16 euro 1 euro = 85 pence

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