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WORKgateways UK e-newsletter

Monthly e-News for the UK Working Traveller

October 2011, Volume 7 Issue 9

The WORKgateways e-newsletter is written for working travellers bound for the UK hailing from all over the globe - from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada and more. Whether you're already in the UK, impatiently awaiting your departure date or thinking about going in the future, we've got something for you. Scroll down to view this month’s info.

Contents

What's new

Focus

In every issue


Welcome

With the UK experiencing gorgeous sunny days in early October, it's hard to believe that winter, and perhaps a white Christmas, will soon be on their way. This month we have some very important news for those of you considering applying for the UK Youth Mobility visa as well as fun things you can add to your travel itinerary. If you've been in the UK for a while and you're considering a return home to Australia, or you're a Kiwi or Canadian considering you're next move, take a look at our info on the exciting things happening Down Under with recruitment agency CarmichaelAU. As usual, we lots of handy info on UK bank accounts and the latest on the exchange rates from our money transfer partner, Tranzfers.


What's New

Visa consultation into Tier 5 (Youth Mobility)

The UK Border Agency has conducted a public consultation into aspects of a number of UK visa routes, including whether the
Tier 5 (Youth Mobility) visa should be restricted to 12 months.

Due to a heightened focus on UK immigration policy, the UKBA has recently conducted a public consultation into a few visa routes to the UK. Although the results of the consultation have not yet been announced, one of the visas that my be affected is the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility) visa. Tier 5 (Youth Mobility) is one of the most popular UK visas for working travellers from Australia and New Zealand. It currently allows you to work for two years in the UK. It has been proposed that this visa is reduced to 12 months.
If you are planning on travelling to the UK soon on the Youth Mobility Visa and would like to make use of the full two years, it is recommended you consider applying before any anticipated changes. Although the visa may remain at two years, any potential changes usually become effective immediately following an announcement from UKBA. Officially, you should not apply for Youth Mobility earlier than three months before your anticipated arrival date in the UK. This is when your visa will become ‘active’ and your two years will begin, regardless of when you actually enter the UK. For more information on the consultation, visit the UKBA website.

Find out more about the Youth Mobility visa at WORKgateways.

We have recently updated our UK visa pages to give you the best information possible when choosing your UK visas - visit our new UK visas pages here.

Tickets now available for Edinburgh's Hogmanny 2011/2012

Got plans for a big UK New Year’s Eve? It might be a wee bit chilly, but Hogmanay, the famous festival held in picturesque Edinburgh to ring in the New Year, is one of the biggest parties you’ll ever experience.

Tickets and registration for all Hogmanay events are now available.  This spectacular event is set beneath the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, welcoming the New Year with top bands and the famous Midnight Fireworks. Make your UK NYE unforgettable and get planning now - accommodation and tickets will sell out fast.

Find out more at the Edinburgh Hogmanay website.

Arriving in the UK soon? Book short-term accommodation OR book a UK hostel.

Join our Facebook page

Want to get the latest news on UK visas, find out about that perfect job before everyone else does or just need to know where the best place to grab a pint in southwest London is? Join our Facebook page.

Become a fan and we promise to deliver lots of handy info for anyone travelling to work in London or anywhere in the UK, plus great stuff for those of you who are already settled in. Plus we might even give some cool stuff away.

Want to become our fan on Facebook?


Focus

Take your career to new heights Down Under

There are fantastic opportunities in Australia for qualified civil engineers, surveyors, commercial and design staff, planners (and other construction professionals). Are you interested in making the move?

Highly experienced company CarmichaelUK has been operating in Australia for more than four years recruiting professionals into Engineering and Management services across the engineering and construction industry. Now they have opened a new office CarmichaelAU, in Brisbane to provide a permanent recruitment service throughout Australasia and they are on the look out for civil engineers, surveyors, commercial and design staff, planners (and other construction professionals).

This offers great opportunities for you and your family to emigrate to Australasia with the security of a guaranteed job. In addition to a broad range of exciting career opportunities in engineering, they’ll provide you with help in all aspects of your move from immigration and visa administration to choosing the right place to live. So if you want the Australian weather and lifestyle to complement a great job, choose CarmichaelAU to help you with your next career move.

They are currently recruiting for candidates in marine, rail, roading, piling and foundations, major earthworks, concrete works, tunnelling and M&E Projects. To book your screening interview with the team in the UK, send your CV to Carmichael, quoting 'WORKGATEWAYS' in the subject line of your email. Or, to see current jobs available, visit their website. For UK engineering and constructions, jobs visit the CarmichaelUK profile on WORKgateways.

Currency update from Tranzfers

We've teamed up with Tranzfers to bring you the latest financial information on how the British pound and your currency are holding up in the current markets

Aussie Dollars: The recent risk rally continued for a fourth-straight session pushing the Aussie to a high of 0.9860 during New York trade however the sharp move was short-lived and we open at 0.9730 on Monday morning. Last Friday saw plenty of buyers at US97 cents after bank action in Europe bolstered the confidence of investors. Add to this a 2 per cent rally in local equities and another gain in commodity prices it was virtually a straight line all the way to US98 cents during the Asian session. Risk sentiment was further buoyed after US non-farm payrolls came in better than expected with 103,000 jobs added compared to forecasts of 60,000 and this was the main catalyst for the sharp rally through 0.9850. The US jobless rate however remains stuck at 9.1 per cent.

Great British Pound: Sterling continued its recent ascent on Friday and opens today at 1.5552 against its US counterpart after last week’s decision by the Bank of England (BoE) to inject another 75 billion pounds into the ailing economy. The move surprised many investors which saw the currency post its biggest intraday gain in three months. Sterling has advanced almost 3 per cent in the last 4 weeks. The stimulus measures came earlier than most had expected and BoE Governor Mervyn King did not mince his words warning the world is facing the worst financial crisis since at least the 1930s "if not ever". Meanwhile, the pound opens higher against both the Australian Dollar (1.5956) and the New Zealand Dollar (2.0240).

For more information on the markets or making your earnings go as far as possible when sending money overseas, feel free to register to chat with a Tranzfers dealer at Tranzfers.

As a member of WORKgateways you can now get your first transfer completely fee free. Check out our info on international money transfers.

UK bank accounts - get yours sorted

Want one less thing to worry about when you arrive in the UK? Check out our options for traveller package to get your UK bank account sorted out. So easy!

You may have heard that it's not as easy as one might think to open a bank account in the UK. That is true; opening an account in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa is easier however a few tips will help you and reduce hassles. If you think of the bank as doing you a favour by allowing you to keep your money with them, you will be a step ahead in understanding the system, and less bewildered after your UK bank encounters.

Read more about UK bank accounts here.

Check out your UK Visa options or apply to jobs

Take the movie star tour of the UK

Ever wanted to relive the scenes of your favourite British films? The UK is one giant movie set, from the iconic shots of the river Thames in Harry Potter to the craggy mountains of Edinburgh in the recent adaptaion of David Nicholl's One Day, add these must-visits to your itinerary. Here are three of our favourite movies with great locations to visit..

1. One Day
From Edinburgh to London, you'll recognise a whole lot of locations from the recent adaptation of David Nicholl's best-selling book. The pivotal location is Edinburgh, where the romance begins as the two main characters amble up the breathtaking Salisbury Crags to Arthur's Seat. Then they head to London where you'll see shots from all over the city. And the Mexican restaurant where Emma works, supposedly in Camdem? It's actually an awesome Cuban bar in Waterloo called Cubana.

2. 28 Days Later
This zombie flick is made all the more surreal by eerie scenes of a completely deserted London. You'll see all the major sightseeing attractions - Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, the London Eye - but all quieter than you've ever seen them before! Some country scenes were filmed at Badminton House in Gloucestershire, which was also used for scenes in Pearl Harbor.

3. Notting Hill
Portobello Road is a must-do on any working traveller's list for London. This hectic and magnificent stretch of road is packed with antique sellers, specialty shops, fashion boutiques, market stalls, pubs and wine bars and it was the scene where a bumbling Hugh Grant first spilled orange juice all over Julia Roberts in the movie Notting Hill. Sadly the travel bookshop owned by Hugh Grant in the movie has recently had to close its doors.

Check out other British film locations to find more places to add to your list.


In every issue

WIN! A free UK bank account!!

Travelling to the UK soon and need to set up a UK bank account? Email our newsletter editor with the answer to the following question, and you will be in with a chance to win a bank account start-package, including lots of useful extras.

Which new musical, based on a cartoon, has just hit London's West End?

A. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
B. Shrek
C. Toy Story

To enter, just send us an email with BANK ACCOUNT in the subject line and we'll get in touch if you win. Entries close end of November.


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