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WORKgateways UK e-newsletter

Monthly e-News for the UK Working Traveler

28th March 2003 Volume 1 Issue 1

Contents

Introductory Comments – In the Loop

UK News!

In Australia…

In Every Issue:

____________________________________________________

Introductory Comments – In the Loop

As promised, welcome to the first issue of Workgateways E-Newsletter! With this
publication our goal is to bring together those of you working and travelling in the UK as
well as those whom are still planning your overseas trips, with breaking news, up to date
information, gossip and hot tips covering everything from jobs in the UK and in Australia, to
holidays, visa news plus general interest topics – anything of interest to the international
worker/traveller. Or in brief: to keep you in the loop.
___________________________________________

UK News!

Top jobs this issue: Construction Professionals

Its summer, the birds are chirping…but you can’t hear any of that…yes, its construction
season and though your air and noise(less) quality may have dropped, the contract
construction recruitment industry in the UK is booming!
Here is an idea of some of the roles currently vacant:

  • Quantity Surveyors and Site Managers required for fast-track interior fit outs of office-blocks, hotels, banks and leisure centres. Quantity Surveyors should be at assistant or intermediate level, degree qualified with experience of fit out projects. Site Managers will preferably come from a trades background, preferably carpentry, with experience of managing interiors projects of a high standard of finish and frequent client liaison.
  • Residential Housing Construction - Contract vacancies exist UK-wide for site managers and finishing foremen with strong backgrounds working with housing developers on new build projects. Degree qualified individuals as well as trades (carpentry) background candidates required. Rates negotiable, generally between £14 to £18 per hour ltd.
  • Residential Developments (Permanent) - Permanent positions available with residential developers in south of England. Minimum 2 years experience working with residential developments in a quantity surveying capacity.
  • Site Manager required for a mixed use residential development in West London. Candidates must have experience of similar RC frame developments.
    ____________________________________________

Visas: Changes to existing UK working holiday scheme

How could you not have heard yet? By all accounts, including the official luckily, the wheels
are indeed in motion to lift, rather than tighten several of the restrictions on Aussies and
Kiwis wishing to visit and work in the UK. Specific areas of consequence appear to be three-fold;
Higher age limit for the UK working holiday visa, lifting of associated work restrictions, and
permission to re-apply for a second working holiday in the UK.

The basis for this potential legislation is due, not to the kindness of the Home Office’s heart
(although I hear they’re lovely) but rather to the significant and chronic shortage of skilled
workers in the UK.

We at Workgateways were surely wary of this nasty e-trick to raise the hopes of thousands of
28+ year olds Down Under, so please see this proposal for yourself at the following link,
very interesting reading for a government policy site: http://www.workpermits.gov.uk/default.asp?PageId=2830

The deadline for comment on the new policy is 23rd August 2002, with a decision and any
new official policy to follow.
_________________________________________

Ireland – Green with envy

Have you thought of trying your luck in Ireland for your next contract? They would love to
have you. Information, industry reports and enquiries we receive from those knee-deep in the
technical recruitment industry in the emerald isle strongly indicate that there is a need for
engineering, technicians and construction professionals in most building, civils and
infrastructure fields including water, rail, roads, building both design and construction.
Occasionally one hears otherwise (why??) but the word on the street is THEY WANT YOU!
More information on how you can legally work in Ireland can be found at www.entemp.ie
(note Ireland also has a working holiday visa, however it is valid for one year, with
restrictions). If you would like to explore this option Workgateways will put you in touch
with the right souls in the Irish recruitment industry: please email me at
jane.stewart@workgateways.com and tell me your story..

Top London Tip: ¡Free Cuba!

If you have not been to Upper St in Islington, London, try to put an evening aside to head
north on the black line and stroll the strip. A particular must is dinner and drinks (or just
drinks) at Cuba Libre where you can sip its infamous namesake drink in a darkly-lit,
atmospheric room whilst cigar smoke floats by and Ché proudly looks on. Their tapas are
some of the best.
________________________________________

The Goss from Back Home…Sydney Under Construction:

We may have experienced a slowdown in the civil construction world in Sydney following
our international debut in 2000, but the industry in Sydney now gears up for what looks like
high activity levels sustained for the next several years. In most instances the contracts have
been awarded and those successful are now faced with finding the numbers and quality of
individuals required for such large-scale (and impressive!) civil works. The resultant rush of
activity in the construction industry will see engineers and construction professionals shifting
to busy offices with upcoming projects. Major projects include:

Cross City Tunnel (see http://old.smh.com.au/news/0202/28/national/national18.html), the
major contractor is Baulderstone Hornibrook. The Sydney Orbital has Leightons as a
favoured contractor while the Parramatta to Chatswood Rail-link will be built by Theiss
Contractors. The Liverpool Transit way is in the beginning stages of construction whilst this
is being written; Barclay Mowlem will work on that.

If you interested in construction related opportunities, from Project Engineer to Construction
Manager, over the next year in Sydney - we want to hear from you NOW!
quinn@workgateways.com.au
_______________________________________

Check out this great service from 1st Contact!

Organise your UK bank account from here
If you are still in the planning stages of your UK working holiday, 1 st Contact offers a variety
of packages designed to help your move from Australia to London.

The 1st Contact 'Kickstart London package' will cost you only A$70 and you will receive
assistance with setting up a UK bank account before you leave Australia (or when you
arrive), a 1 st Contact telecom card with £9 credit, mail/fax holding service for 6 months,
London A to Z street atlas (indispensable!), as well a drinks voucher, a welcome to
London orientation meeting and the 1st Contact London Guide (160 pages of great info
about living and working in the UK!)..

You can organise one of these packages directly through Workgateways. To take advantage
of this offer or for more information, contact Jane at Workgateways.
Accommodation packages are also available – please ask us how to book a hostel package!
_______________________________________

In Every Issue:

Trip Idea #1: Do I really want that cheap fare to Bilbao?

A two week walking odyssey in northern Spain:
Camino Santiago de Compostela, the ancient pilgrims’ walking track across northern Spain
gives you an adventurous and stunningly beautiful active-holiday option close enough to
London to take advantage of cheap airfares. The track can be joined at any number of points
allowing you to make your walk as long or short as UK work commitments permit. As an
added bonus, whilst walking you will be a student of the ‘no choice’ language learning
method of starting, or brushing up on your Spanish!
Note: the most common track takes you over the Pyrenees, from France into Spain, so be
prepared to find your pommy-food midriff a distant memory.
Visit www.caminosantiago.com for more information. Buen viaje!
___________________________________

Stuff you might like: Links List

Your Say: email your say to jane.stewart@workgateways.com

Do you have questions, comments; is there anything you’d like to see addressed in
Workgateways e-newsletter?
____________________________________

In the Next Issue:

  • Rail UK: How to put your engineering skills to work in the rarely dull world of British
    tracks.
  • Trip Idea #2 – tell me your great trip idea at jane.stewart@workgateways.com
  • The Ltd option: limited companies in closer detail

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