Working in the UK

Weather

The seasons:

Spring: March to May
Summer: June to September
Autumn: October to November
Winter: December to February

Average summer temperatures are in the region of 20-22C, Spring and Autumn have temperatures around 13-15C, although the nights are much cooler and, in the winter, temperatures frequently drop below freezing. London and the Southeast enjoy milder weather than further north, although heavy snowfalls are not unknown. You will definitely need a thick coat and tough shoes/boots for the winter months - bring an umbrella too!

Visa Requirements

You will need one of the following visas to work in the UK if you are coming from a non EU country:

• 2 Year Working Holiday Visa
  This is one of the most common visas issued to Antipodeans moving to London . The requirements are that you are aged between 17 - 30, you are a commonwealth Citizen and that you are intending to take work that is incidental to a holiday, and not to engage in business.

• Ancestry Visa
  Another very common type of visa.  This is granted when one of the candidates grandparents are born in the UK.

• Highly Skilled Migrant Permit
  This visa is very popular amongst professional Antipodean candidates. There are two schemes one for candidates who are under 28 and another for those aged 28 and over. It is a points based system for which 65 points are required in order to apply. There are points awarded for age, qualifications, work experience and the past 12 months earnings.

• Marriage Visa
  This visa was quite common.  However due to abuse of the system it is getting harder to be granted this visa.  There are only certain registry offices that can perform marriages where one of the partners will require a visa.  If foreign candidates wish to apply for the marriage visa they are required to apply for a Certificate of approval first.

• Indefinite Leave to Remain
  After four years on a Work Permit, HSMP, Ancestry, Marriage or Unmarried Partners Visa then a candidate is eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. This gives the candidate permanent residency and after a full year on ILR they are able to apply to be Naturalised.

• Other Visas
  There are other common visas that you may see however aside from the student visa where you can work a maximum of twenty hours per week they don't allow candidates to work.

• Student Visa: Can work maximum of 20 hours per week.
• Sector based Scheme (lower skilled work permit scheme specifically for hospitality and food manufacturing)
• Visitors visa (for periods of up to six months, no work allowed. No switching in country if a job offer received).

For more information contact the Home office.

Getting paid in the UK

Firstly you will need to open a bank account so we can start depositing your pay each week.

The major banks are Natwest, HSBC, Barclays & Lloyds TSB.

Opening an account in the UK is difficult. You will need as much I.D. as possible including your passport/visa; proof of address (bills, rent receipts or a lease if renting through an agency); a letter from your employer/job agency; bank statements and a letter from your bank at home.

If you are unable to open a Bank Account immediately, we can organise to pay you by cheque which can then be cashed at Foreign Exchange shops offering a cheque cashing service. A commission fee will usually be charged to cash the cheque.

Accommodation in the UK

If you are planning to stay in London for six months or more, it will be worth your while to rent. There is a wide range of properties to let and most places come fully furnished. Depending on which part of town you live, bed sits will cost between £50 -£85 per week, rooms from £70 -£120, and one bedroom flats from £100 -£150.  The cheapest option is a bed sit, which is a self-contained room, which often has its own small cooker, and a room in a flat share or house share, which tends to be a popular way to meet people and can often have between 4 and 12 people sharing. Remember, cash up front - for instance, a month's rent in advance, plus a similar sum as returnable deposit. You will also probably be asked to sign a contract - please make sure you read anything before you sign it!

There are various newspapers, magazines, companies and establishments in London that can assist you with your accommodation requirements when you first arrive:

The 'TNT Magazine' is a free publication, which has an accommodation section.

The Gumtree.co.uk is a popular website for overseas house hunters.

The 'Loot' is a newspaper that is printed daily it is also a popular and useful source of information for accommodation prospects.

The London Tourist Board can also assist in providing many accommodation options such as bed sits, hostels and budget hotels. They are located at Victoria Station and be contacted on 0207 938 3000.

Travelling in London

London is divided into various zones from Zone 1 to 6, Zone 1 being Central London and moving outwards to Zone 6. Most temporary staff members prefer to live in close proximity to the central working districts, these being the City and the West End, located in Zone 1.

The public transport within London is fairly accessible to most areas either by the Underground, London Transport Buses or British Rail services.  Weekly travel cards are usually the most economical way of getting around London and these can be budgeted for week by week.  A travel card allows you to travel on the underground, buses and trains within the relevant zone and can be used at both peak and non-peak times.