WORKgateways UK e-newsletter
Monthly e-News for the UK Working Traveller
May 2011, Volume 7 Issue 5
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
- Get your first international money transfer free
- Grab your tickets to London 2012
- Book ahead to get your summer plans underway
Focus
- Saving money this summer
- UK job update
- Currency update from Tranzfers
- Great deals on UK bank accounts
In every issue
Welcome
Still got a royal hangover from the wedding of the year? London sure put on a good show and it was good to see so many Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and other working travellers joining the revellers in Hyde Park and on Pall Mall! If the scenes of Westminster Abbey and Big Ben got you inspired to start planning your working holiday, check out our info on UK bank accounts, money transfers, plus nifty ways to save money for the big trip and everything you need to know about the UK job market. We're about to head into a cracking European summer so the fun is just beginning...
What's New
Get your first international money transfer free
Heading to the UK soon or got some cash you need to get back home? This month we have a special deal for those looking for an easy way to transfer your money between the UK and your home country.
If you're soon to be headed over to the UK, here's one more thing to cross off your list and make life a little easier. Get yourself set up with an international money transfer company - you'll have an account that you can then easily use to either transfer pounds back to your home country or get an injection of funds from your own currency. SPECIAL OFFER THIS MONTH: register with either 1st Contact or Tranzfers to get your first international money transfer completely free.
Check out our info on international money transfers and find out how to get the best rates. Tranzfers have also provided us with an international currency update to help you keep on top of what's happening in the market - read their latest update here.
Arriving in London soon? Book short-term accommodation OR book a UK hostel.
Grab your tickets to London 2012
If you're currently in the UK, we hope you've grabbed your chance to get tickets to London 2012 as applications from within the UK are now closed. If you're still in your home country, there's still time to get your tickets so make sure you don't miss out.
For those in Australia and Canada (and a few other nations) wanting to buy tickets to London 2012, CoSport is the official ticket source. CoSport is the Official Partner of the Australian Olympic Team and has been appointed as the only authorised ticket reseller to sell tickets to Australians, Canadians, Americans and some other nations. Visit CoSport here.
New Zealand residents wanting to buy London 2012 tickets should visit the New Zealand Olympic Committee London 2012 site here.
Book ahead to get your summer plans underway
If you're planning some summer getaways, now is a good time to get your flights sorted as the later you leave it, the more expensive it will be. There are some new routes and special early bird deals available - here are the places to look...
Flight search website Skyscanner has a rundown of all the cheapest deals of the week on their Tips and Advice page. It's a good place to start when looking for cheap deals. You should also check out travel websites such as Dealchecker and see our guide on how to save on your Europe summer holidays.
Shop around amongst the budget airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet and BMI Baby. The more flexible you are with your destination, the more likely you'll be able to find the best deals. Easyjet has just announced a new flight to Seville, with fares starting from £39.99 one way, and recently announced it would be the first the first no-frills carrier to fly from Europe to the Middle East.
Arriving in London soon? Book short-term accommodation OR book a UK hostel.
Focus
How to save money this summer
The summer is here (almost) and you've no doubt started planning lots of fun UK and European jaunts. Here are some top tips to help you save money while you're living in the UK, and you might even have some precious pounds leftover to send home...
Go voucher mad: There’s a voucher craze in the UK and there are tons of decent savings to be had on fashion, meals out, entertainment, gym memberships and more. There are lots of different sites but Voucher Codes is one of the best. Don’t be shy and get downloading.
2 4 1 on London attractions: Travel by train into London to get two for one tickets to some of London’s top attractions including Madame Tussauds, the London Eye and countless restaurants, walking tours, afternoon teas at top hotels and musicals.
Be transport savvy: If you know where you need to be for the next month or so, it’s cheaper to buy monthly tickets instead of weekly. Or find out if your employer offers travel loans for an annual ticket (if you know you are going to be sticking around that long). If you need to travel to and from the airport, don’t get the express trains. Yes they may be the quickest way to get to the airport but buses or the standard trains and tubes are much cheaper, and often only marginally longer. Look into services like Easy Bus.
Get your UK adventure started by searching the latest UK job vacancies at WORKgateways or register with recruitment agencies.
Your UK job update
The UK job market has certainly changed a lot in the last year or so. The good news if that if you have a visa or passport and the right qualifications, there are still a lot of good opportunities about. Here's our breakdown of what's going on in some of the key industries and how you can land your dream UK job.
Care, Nannies and Au Pairs: Live-in carers for people with spinal injuries are in high demand and many jobs can be found on WORKgateways. Nannies and Au Pairs are also highly sought after if you have experience and a valid UK visa or passport. Live-in options for all these roles can be a good way to save money and see the country. You should apply to these both before you set off for the UK and once you have arrived.
Social work: There remains a serious shortage of Qualified Social Workers in the UK. Despite this, in 2010 the UK government placed a limit on the number of sponsored (Tier 2) Visa holders allowed to enter the UK from Non-EU coutries. This has reduced the number of sponsored opprtunites for Social Workers. Now only those with children and family services experience have access to this visa. For Tier 5, Ancestry Visa or EU passport holders, opportunites to pick up short-term locum roles are as good as ever. We strongly recommend registering with UK social work recruitment agencies in advance of your arrival in the UK.
Allied Health: Radiographers, OTs and Speech and Language Therapists are in high demand throughout the British Isles. Tier 5 (youth mobility visa), Ancestry Visa or EU passport holders will have no worries getting short term locum jobs. Sponsored opprtunites have been limited by the cap set on the UK National Shortage Occupation list.
Nursing: There is a demand for nurses. Qualified and NMC registered, RMN's, RGN's will find short term locum opportunites. However nurses with theatre or neonatal intensive care experience will also find sponsored opportunites. Visit WORKgateways for more info.
Construction and Engineering: Heavy Civil engineers and construction professionals are still in demand in the UK. After the financial crisis, the opportunites in building have become limited.
Architecture and Interior Design: Interior designers with specific experience in retail, office and commercial will find great opportunites especially if you have strong software experience like Sketchup, Vectorworks, AutoCAD and ArchiCAD. If you have a valid visa, Ancestry visa or EU/UK passport, register with agencies via WORKgateways.
Town Planning: Throughout this year, the industry is expected to be slower than usual in terms of getting employment if you dont have UK experience. This could change quickly as traditionally many planning roles were covered by overseas people. Therefore we believe as soon as there is an upturn – demand will be immediate. Upturns can change quickly with a change in the budget, but right now those budgets are being paired back. It is highly advisable to get in contact with an agency if you have plans to go to the UK within the next year. Register with agencies via WORKgateways.
Education: Secondary Teachers continue to have excellent long and short-term opportunites in the UK, especially in the areas of Math, Science, English, Humanities and PE. Primary teachers will fill KS1 & KS2 positions. If you are heading to the UK over the coming months your are advised to get in touch with agencies now for the September and January terms.
Hospitality: There is always contract/temp waitstaff jobs in the UK - Live-in or Live-out. Qualified chefs with good experience are always in short supply. Live-in bar jobs are not as easy to find in London these days, but there are quite a few outside of London. If you have solid hospitality experience you should have no worries finding work when you arrive in or out of London.
Get your UK adventure started by searching the latest UK job vacancies at WORKgateways or register with recruitment agencies.
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
The GBP/AUD continues to decline as the AUD goes from strength to strength.There is an interest rate announcement expected out of the UK this week with a strong consensus that there will be no change. There was also an RBA announcement in Australia today which did not change rates.
GBP/EUR: after seeing sterling gains earlier last week after seeing UK GDP figures coming in as expected, we saw the Euro push back on these gains. Public holidays in France, Italy and the UK have meant a quieter start to the trading month.
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
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 Australian Olympic swimmer was spotted at the Royal wedding last week?
A. Kieran Perkins
B. Ian Thorpe
C. David Beckham
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 May.
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