WORKgateways UK e-newsletter
Monthly e-News for the UK Working Traveller
April 2010, Volume 6 Issue 4
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
- Changes to Tier 1 and Youth Mobility Visa
- Community Pharmacists Added to Shortage Occupation List
- UK Recruitment: Going from Temp to Perm
Focus
In every issue
Welcome
Fresh from the delicious four-day long weekend, a great time for all those little jaunts off to Europe from the UK, we're now looking forward to the arrival of the British spring. The clocks have gone back and the nights are getting longer — it's a great time to arrive and get your preparations ready for the exciting summer ahead.
Check out all the latest immigration and job news, plus all you need to get set for the big trip. And don't forget to enter this month's prize draw.
What's new
Changes to Tier 1 and Youth Mobility Visas
The UK Border Agency recently implemented changes to the requirements for Tier 1 visas, removing the necessity for a Masters degree, and added Monaco to the list of qualifying countries for Youth Mobility Visas.
The anticipated changes to the Tier 1 visa requirements came into effect on 6 April. The changes were those that were recommended by the UK Migration Advisory Committee.
The main changes are:
- Bachelor degree can once again be used to gain points
- Points for earnings have been reduced (ie a specific level of earnings will get less points)
- Age points have been stayed the same or increased, except for 30 year olds where points have decreased.
To find out more about the new requirements, visit the UK Border Agency website.
Another exciting development is that nationals of Monaco are now eligible to apply for the Youth Mobility Visa.
Find out more about Youth Mobility at the WORKgateways website »
Got queries about which UK visa is right for you? Visit our visa pages or go to our WORKgateways forum.
Search for UK jobs and register with UK agencies now.
Community Pharmacists Added to Shortage Occupation List
Every six months, the UK Migration Advisory Committee reviews the occupations which are on the UK¹s shortage list. Recently they revised the current list and added community pharmacists.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its latest report, making recommendations based on its third partial review of the shortage occupation lists for the UK and for Scotland.
The MAC recommends that the pharmacists category on the UK shortage occupation list be expanded to include community pharmacists (those who work for private employers other than the NHS).
If an occupation is on the shortage occupation list, it means that workers skilled in these areas are in high demand and can more easily qualify for Tier 2 sponsorship as their potential employers do not have to complete a resident labour market test.
Read more about shortage occupation lists at the UK Border Agency website »
Uk Recruitment: Going from Temp to Perm
A recent UK survey shows a marked increase in the amount of workers transferring from temporary contracts to permanent employment in the UK — a common route for working travellers.
The results, from a recent UK 'JobsOutlook' survey, highlights the crucial role that temporary work plays in providing an important stepping stone into the UK job market. It's an especially common route for working travellers from overseas coming to work in the UK, who are looking for their way into an unfamiliar job market.
WORKgateways founder Quinn Askeland says: 'Working travellers who have recently arrived in the UK should not be afraid to apply for temporary positions, as often these can lead to more permanent opportunities.
'We have a lot of agencies on our site that place workers in temporary positions  and we recommend that travellers register with at least 3 key agencies in their field to get their job hunt started'.
Australian working holiday maker, Sam Turney, says: 'When I was job hunting, a lot of employers were looking for UK experience. I found it was easier to start working as a freelancer doing temporary contracts, and eventually I was offered a permanent position in one of the companies I was temping for'.
Search for UK jobs and register with UK agencies, for both temp and permanent contracts.
Want to get regular updates? Check out our Twitter feed.
Focus
Get Help Planning Your UK Working Holiday: Bank Accounts, Visas and More
WORKgateways works in partnership with traveller company 1st Contact to offer you lots of useful services to help you plan your working holiday, and make life as easy for you as possible - both before you set off for the UK and when you arrive. This month we spoke to Tania Browne, from 1st Contact, who tells you all you need to know...
WG: Tania, how can 1st Contact help people who are planning their working holiday?
Tania: We assist people in a number of ways before they leave for the UK. The key areas we assist in are UK Visas and Immigration; as a registered migration agent we are licenced to provide advice and services in this area and with the British authorities forever changing their policy and document requirements the risk of refusal is forever a worry for individuals, for this reason many choose to use our guaranteed service. We most commonly help people with their Tier 5 Youth Mobility visa and Ancestry visas.
Find out more about our visa services »
As many people have found out the hard way, opening a UK bank account as an individual in the UK is incredibly difficult and for the most part impossible for many new arrivals. For this reason thousands of people heading to the UK ask us to assist them in opening an account and we can do this because we have long-established relationships with many credible banks in the UK, we can even open a UK bank account while you are still in Australia and have your bank cards delivered to you before you leave.
Find out more about opening a UK bank account with 1st Contact »
WG: How can you help working travellers once they have arrived in the UK?
Tania: In the UK we continue to support our clients and provide essential services as well as educating them on the great savings/gains that can be made while living and working in London. NI Rebates is a great example of one area that most people do not understand nor profit from and yet its really simple. We also provide services in Accounting and Umbrella companies for contractors, as well as tax refund services — all which can help you save those precious pounds.
Find out more about NI rebates and how 1st Contact can help you »
WG: What are your most popular packages?
Tania: Our most popular package is the Kickstart package. This product includes the opening of a UK bank account, a UK SIM card (the number of which you receive when you purchase the pack), Job assistance, discounted accommodation, national insurance information, money transfer to the UK, International calling card with credit, 5 day free gym membership, consultation with accounting or Umbrella specialist, Information booklet and London guide. Its aimed at taking the hassle out of moving to London by helping you to cut through the red tape and get to earning some money and enjoying the UK life.
Find out more about Kickstart » and Opening a bank account in the UK »
WG: And finally, why are you a reliable company to use?
Tania: All the staff who work in our Australian office have lived and worked in the UK before and all can offer their own personal experiences and advice. We have also been providing relocation services to people travelling to the UK for 15 years. We are bonded, regulated and licenced by any and all government and independent regulatory bodies across all industries we practice in and in all countries we operate in.
Got questions about opening a UK bank account? Check out our FAQS »
Transfer Your Money Internationally
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.
Want to know how many pounds you'll get for your dollars? Check out our online currency converter and our super useful Currency Tools.
City focus... Brighton
If you're dreaming of a pebbled seaside, old-school fairground attractions, top nightlife and great shopping, make sure you schedule in a visit to the coastal gem that is Brighton.
Where is it? Brighton is around a 2 hour drive or around 1 hour 10 minutes by train from Victoria station in London, on the southern coast of England. There's also super cheap bus fares with National Express.
Famous for... Brighton Pier, with it's showy theme park amusements and scream-inducing rides, plus a great festival calender of events including the Brighton Pride Festival and the Brighton Fringe Festival.
Should be (more) famous for... The Lanes — some of the best boutique shopping in the UK, with its picturesque cobbled lanes and gorgeous stores. And OK, it might not be golden sands, but taking a stroll along the pebbles of Brighton on a windy, sunny day (or while necking a cider) is a must-do for your working holiday.
We recommend... an afternoon walking around the stunningly opulent Royal Pavilion, the former residence of King George IV. The bohemian North Laine collection of kitschy retro and vintage shops, galleries and cafes is also not to be missed.
Want to know more? Check out Visit Brighton »
In every issue
WIN! New Lonely Planet Guide to Prague
Prague can play a diverse hand of charms. Fairytale castles, picturesque bridges, laid-back nightlife, cobbled lanes, velvet-smooth beer and the last word in comfort food. Seriously, it's that good.
We have five copies of the BRAND NEW Lonely Planet PRAGUE ENCOUNTER guide to give away to some lucky working travellers - it's a perfect handbag size for those fun weekends, with heaps of useful info. Just send us an email with Prague in the subject line (and your mailing address). Entries close end of April.
Winners of last month's BERLIN giveaway:
Bec Lindley, Jo Canty, Jasmine Gailer, Sarah Fraser, Merome Wright. Enjoy!
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