WORKgateways UK e-newsletter
Monthly e-News for the UK Working Traveller
January 2010, Volume 6 Issue 1
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
Happy New Year! However you heralded in 2010, we hope there's lots of adventure in store for you this year, and we're here to help you along the way. Along with your other New Year's resolutions, to get thinner or save more, we've put together a handy tick list to help you plan your working holiday and make sure you get to the UK in 2010. Check out our snapshot of the upcoming year, to make sure you don't miss out on any of those great festivals and events, and visit our forum or Facebook pages to make sure you know what's going on in the UK job market.
What's new
Your New Year resolutions
Everyone starts the new year with the best intentions and while some of us may be getting stuck into the cake or drinking a beer after a week of 'cold turkey' sometimes, you can really achieve something great if you stick to your original plan. If your resolution for 2010 is to start planning a UK working holiday, we're here to help you get motivated - just follow our steps to get you started and the world is your oyster...
- Is 2010 the right year for you? We know that anyone that heads to the UK on a working holiday with the right attitude is going to have an unbelievably fantastic time, but it's a good idea to reflect on the best time for you to go. For most industries, it's a good idea to have at least 1-2 years' experience to put you in the best position. Read about your industry and find out the level of experience that is recommended for the kind of job you would like to get. Also think about what season you would like to arrive in - are you a fan of wintry afternoons in cosy pubs by the fire or do you want to start with a blaze of glory in the summer?
- Find out about UK visas The most common route for Aussies, Kiwis and Canadians who want to travel to the UK is the Youth Mobility Visa which is the easiest, cheapest visa to get. If you have a grandparent that was born in the UK, you may qualify for an Ancestry Visa, or if you have a Master's degree, then a Tier 1 (Highly Skilled Visa) could be the right one for you. Read about UK visas and how to apply here. Find lots of useful information on our forum, too.
- Buy your flights and plan your travel Are you going to go straight to the UK or travel en-route? Check out our handy guide to 2010 for travel ideas, below, or visit useful travel forums like Lonely Planet Thorn Tree for ideas. Plan a rough budget for how much money you will need when you arrive in the UK, by checking out UK Living Costs.
- Get a UK bank account Once you've got your flights booked and your visa organised, then next thing on your to-do list should be to organise a UK bank account. You can save tons of time and hassle by organising this before you leave, and some packages can give you a fully operational UK bank account before you've even stepped on a plane. Check out the options here.
- Register with recruitment agencies and apply to jobs Recruitment agencies are a very common way to find employment in the UK. We recommend registering with at least three good recruitment agencies in advance of your arrival in the UK - in some industries, you should register 1-2 years in advance of your expected arrival date (but don't worry if you've left it later!). In the weeks before you arrive, you can also start applying to jobs. Read here about the basics of getting a job in the UK.
- Save, Save, Save! It goes without saying, but the more cash you have when you first arrive, the more fun you're probably going to have! Cut out that daily latte or jog outside instead of paying that gym membership this year, and you'll be surprised at how quickly the dollars pile up. You should also read our easy guide to transferring your money internationally here.
On WORKgateways, we have handy vodcasts and more checklists to help you plan your UK adventure and ensure your UK working holiday is one New Year resolution that you will succeed in doing this year!
Visit our forum and get your queries answered
Got burning questions about what life is like in the UK, how to get your visa or what your chances are of getting a job? Visit out forum today to get them answered.
Every day, there are dozens of questions posted on our forum that are answered by WORKgateways knowledgeable staff and other working travellers. Plus, we post tons of useful information to help you plan the perfect working holiday.
To kick off the New Year, we've posted a January 2010 UK Recruitment Update on the forum.
Visit the WORKgateways forum here.
Your say
Our WORKgateways community gets larger everyday, with our members discussing everything from visa options to job opportunities, how to set up UK bank accounts to where to live in London via our forum, Facebook group page and Twitter. Here are some of the issues tackled this month... why not join in?
"Hi, I live in Toronto and I'm a Child and Youth Worker looking to have an opportunity to work in the UK. I was wondering if someone knows any good agencies that I can contact or email so I can get more info on how to get a work visa and work out there" Armando, posting on our Facebook group wall.
"I would like to know whether you are allowed to be self employed/freelance on a working holiday visa?" Mir, on our WORKgateways forum.
Want to get regular updates? Check out our Twitter feed.
Focus
Snapshot of 2010: let the fun begin
This year is going to be huge! Whether you're into sport, music, culture or just love to travel, here are just some of the exciting European and global events you could experience in 2010. Get planning now and don't miss out! Here are just a few of our favourites...
January/February: Ever dreamt of attending a glamorous costume ball in a historical palace? The Carnival of Venice, from 6-16 February, is a must for masquerade lovers, with tons of music, events and entertainment in one of the world's most picturesque settings. For more parades, costumes and parties, head to Cologne (or anywhere else in Germany!) for their Karneval.
March/April: There's no better place to be on St Patrick's Day (14 March) than on the Emerald Isle. The official festival is in Dublin and includes street theatre, Irish music, dance, comedy and, no doubt, several pints of guiness. If you're in London, you don't have to miss out as it's also a huge celebration, with a parade, events in pubs and performances.
May: Only the Brits would make an event of rolling a giant wheel of cheese down a knobbly hill and then madly chasing it! Cheese rolling in Gloucestershire, to be held this year on 31 May, has become a nationally recognised event and more and more thrillseekers are travelling to risk life and limb for the glory of being the first to the bottom of the hill, clutching the cheese. There have been Aussie, New Zealand and Canadian champions in the past - could you be the next one?
June: Football fever hits South Africa in June for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. It is generally more affordable and easier to fly to South African from the UK and Europe, so why not schedule a stopover on your working holiday? Tickets are still available. If you can't stretch to South Africa, closer to the UK you can't miss the renowned Glastonbury festival. Tickets are sold out for 2010 (although there may be a chance to buy tickets from cancelled orders), so start planning for 2011 now.
July: If you've got a daring streak, risk a goring and partake in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. It's a 9-day festival, where revellers must don red and white clothing. If you don't want to cheat injury, it's a good idea to get a balcony or get there early for a good viewing spot!
August: For the world's biggest food fight, head to La Tomatina in Valencia, Spain. Tens of thousands of tourists converge on a small Spanish village to hurl squished tomatoes at eachother, wearing protective gloves and goggles. Sounds like fun, right?
September/October: No-one can party like the Germans and there's no bigger beer festival than Oktoberfest, starting this year on 18 September. Head to the beer hall Mecca Munich, don the lederhosen and raise your steins!
November/December: If Christmas and all the fun that goes with it isn't enough for you, you can always round of the year with some hardcore celebrations at Edinburgh's Hogmanay. Hailed as the 'world's best New Year celebrations', thousands of Brits, Scots and tourists crowd into the city's ancient streets to see live performances and one hell of a fireworks display.
Have you been to or heard of a great festival that's not mentioned here? Share your ideas/recommendations/plans on the discussion at our WORKgateways Facebook Group.
Thousands of UK jobs
We've currently got over 26,000 jobs currently advertised on WORKgateways - so why not do a UK job search and see what you can find?
Try Tranzfers
Need to pay bills back home while you're in the UK, or want to transfer your savings? Try out our recommended money transfer partner, Tranzfers, an official partner of Ozforex that offers cheap and easy international transfers from just £7/$15AUD with competitive exchange rates.
It can be tricky figuring out the best way to transfer your money internationally - whether you're about to arrive in the UK or are a working traveller from way back. Fortunately, we can help - read our useful guide to international transfer here and our handy Money Directory. Register with Tranzfers today, and find out how simple and easy it is.
In every issue
WIN! New Lonely Planet Ireland guide
Nobody knows Ireland like Lonely Planet. Whether you're after traditional music or contemporary cuisine, grand stately homes or jaw-dropping coastal views, this 9th edition gives you all the information you need for an unforgettable stay.
We have five copies of the BRAND NEW Lonely Planet IRELAND guide to give away, just send us an email with IRELAND in the subject line (and your mailing address). Entries close end of January.
Winners of last month's EUROPE ON A SHOESTRING giveaway:
Teresa C, Linden Foster, Elinor Porat, Joseph Fok, Kimberley Natusch
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