
Living and working in the UK Maria Turner & Christina Cuthbert UK EURES Adviser September 2008 www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Working in the UK Employment law Living in the UK Looking for work Living and working in the UK
Great Britain • Great Britain is England Scotland and Wales • The public employment service is Jobcentre Plus • www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
United Kingdom • England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland • Population - 61 million • Unemployment varies across the UK average is 5% • Language - English • Welsh is spoken in some parts of Wales
Northern Ireland • Northern Ireland is part of the UK. The public employment service is: • The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) www.jobcentreonline.com • The Republic of Ireland isnot part of the UK.The public employment service is: • FAS - the Training and Employment Authority www.fas.ie
Job opportunities Opportunities vary across the country, but include: • Construction middle & upper management roles i.e. Quantity Surveyors, Estimators, Project Managers • Opportunities are mainly in London & South East • Dentists, Pharmacists, Specialist Nurses • Drivers – buses, heavy goods vehicles • Chefs and hotel workers • Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical vacancies • Engineering
Jobcentre Plus Strongly advise people not to come to the UK if they do not have a job to start Good English is essential to work in the UK • Search for jobs online • Call the telephone jobs service, Jobseeker Direct +44 (0) 845 6060 234 • Jobcentre Plus offices are self-service with Jobpoint computers www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Looking for work • UK newspapers have internet jobs sites • Visit company websites for job vacancies, company application forms and company information • Private agencies – many are registered with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation www.rec.uk.com
Employment conditions and law • National Minimum Wage is: • £5.73 per hour for over 22 years, (£229 per week for 40hrs / €275) • £4.77 per hour 18 – 21 years approx (£191 per week / €229) • Working week on average is 37- 48 hours • Minimum holiday is 4.8 weeks (24 days if you work a 5 day week) • Your wage is usually paid monthly into a bank account • 20 minute rest break is allowed if you work more than 6 hours each day www.berr.gov.ukwww.acas.org.uk National Minimum Wage Helpline: 0845 600 0678
Useful Sites • Trade Union Congress http://www.tuc.org.uk help with employment questions, disputes, trade unions, health and safety at work etc. • Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs http://www.hmrc.gov.uk help with tax, national insurance, working contracts and hours etc • Health & Safety Executive http://www.hse.gov.uk help with safety and guidance at work etc. • Direct Gov http://www.direct.gov.uk this is the central site for all of the UK’s public services, includes information on health, driving in the UK, education, jobs, local councils, housing etc.
Income Tax • Tax is deducted from wages every week or month • Tax is 20% of gross income • 40% on earnings of over £36,000 (€43,200) • Self-employed people pay their own tax www.hmrc.gov.uk
Council Tax • Council Tax is paid to the council where you live, to pay for local services • The amount you pay depends on your accommodation and family circumstances. Council tax for an average property is approximately £100 per month (€120) • Council Tax may be included in your rent. Check with your landlord
National Insurance • National Insurance is deducted from wages (11%) • The amount you pay depends on how much you earn • Self-employed people must pay their own National Insurance
National Insurance Numbers • Everyone working in the UK has a National Insurance number (NI No.) • You must apply for a number when you start work • If you have worked in the UK before, you do not need a new number • Phone 0845 600 0643 to apply (Great Britain) • In Northern Ireland, contact the Jobcentre www.dwp.gov.uk
Example of weekly earnings If you earn £229 (€275) p/w, your employer will deduct approx: • Income Tax £25 (€32) • National Insurance £14 (€17) • You will receive £190 (€233) Living expenses could include: • Rent (room) £40 (€48) • Council Tax £25 (€30) • Travel £10 (€12) • Food / entertainment £50 (€60) … but you may have to spend more – particularly in London!
Accommodation • Flats – furnished and unfurnished £400 - £500 per month (€480 - €600) • Houses - furnished and unfurnished£450 - £700 per month (€540 - €840) • Rooms £200 - £350 per month (€240 - €420) • You pay one month’s rent before you move in and usually 1 month’s deposit • Large cities are more expensive and accommodation can be difficult to find
Shopping basket • Bread £1.00 €1.20 • Milk 3.41litres£1.90 €2.30 • Sandwich £2.50 €3.00 • Cup of coffee £1.80 €2.15 • Cigarettes £5.50 €6.60 • Pint of beer in pub £3.00 €3.60 • Chocolate bar £0.60 €0.74 • Fish and chips £5.50 €6.60 • Cinema ticket £6.00 €7.20 • Short bus journey £1.50 €1.80 • Football match £15 - £100 €18 – €120
Health • You need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to use the UK National Health Service (NHS) • You can see an NHS doctor without paying • You can get NHS hospital treatment without paying • Prescribed medicines cost £7.10 (€8.50) per item • You will have to pay for spectacles and dental treatment www.dh.gov.uk NHS Direct 0845 46 47
Curriculum Vitae - CV • A CV helps you get an interview – not a job • Keep it simple – 1or 2 sides of A4 paper • Do not use handwriting or include photographs • Employers read CVs for 20 seconds – it must make a quick impression • Prepare a new CV for each job application – to match the job description • Access Jobcentre Plus website www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk for examples of Graduate level cvs and covering letters
Application forms Many companies use application forms instead of a CV and most large companies now use online application forms • Read the form carefully • Follow the instructions • Photocopy the form and practice filling it in • Write a short letter to support your application
Graduates • Good written and spoken English is essential • It is hard to find media jobs • Competition is very high • Graduate vacancies are declining (more competition) • Many employers do not understand foreign qualifications • The UK does not have many work placement opportunities www.prospects.ac.uk
Qualifications and degrees • Qualifications can differ in each European country • Some qualifications are recognised across the Europe • Some professional people must apply for UK recognition • The National Academic Recognition Information Centre, NARIC can compare your qualifications. You will need to pay for this service. www.naric.org.uk
Any questions? Christina Cuthbert EURES Adviser Location: Sheffield Phone: 0044 (0) 114 294 3593 Email: christina.cuthbert@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk Maria Turner EURES Adviser Location: South East Phone: 0044 (0)1273 647577 Email: maria.L.turner@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk