The United Kingdom - living and working conditions

1. How to find a job

The UK has a strong job market with +600,000 job vacancies and employment levels of over 74%. Job vacancies are easy to find and the labour market is flexible and dynamic. This means that there is less worry about job security because you can change job fairly easily. Employers tend to be more interested in your motivation, experience and language competence than they are about your level of education and formal qualifications.

All vacancies advertised by the UK public employment services are available on the European Job Mobility Portal. An EU flag symbol denotes vacancies from employers who are interested in applications from elsewhere in Europe. If you are looking for specialist posts or jobs that do not appear on the portal, try searching the Internet for organisations that represent a particular industry or employment sector. In the UK most recruitment advertising is done through the national and local press, company websites, private and public employment agencies and at careers and jobs fairs.

Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus is part of the Department for Work and Pensions and helps with employment and benefits for people of working age in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland).
Department for Employment and Learning (DEL)
DEL is the equivalent to Jobcentre Plus in Northern Ireland and runs the network of Jobcentres providing help with employment and benefits for people of working age.
Recruitment Agencies
There are many thousands of recruitment agencies in the UK. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation is the main industry body that supports and represents private recruitment agencies and businesses in the UK.
Newspapers
National newspapers are used widely to advertise professional jobs.
Job Fairs
Jobs or Careers Fairs are a good way to meet lots of employers in one place. Prospects, the UK’s official graduate careers website, provides event listings.

2. How to apply for a job

Application
When you have found a job that you would like to apply for, take as much care with your application as possible. Sometimes you can apply for a job by telephone but usually it will be by sending a completed application form or CV by email or by post. All the information you give in your application must be accurate. An employer can dismiss someone who deliberately gives false information. Make sure that your letter of application and CV are typed, rather than written by hand. You can create your own Europass CV on the CV-Search part of the European Job Mobility Portal once you have registered for a ‘My EURES’ account.
Experience
The amount and quality of work experience from your previous jobs will be of great interest to employers. If you have not got any work experience you will find it difficult to find a job in the UK. However, examples of voluntary work or other activities that show a commitment and willingness to work may help.
Qualifications
It is important to give accurate details of your qualifications. If you have qualifications from another country, you can check how they compare to British qualifications with the National Academic Recognition Information Centre for the UK.
References
An employer will often ask for the names and addresses of one or two referees. These are people who know you and are able to write a short report about you. This could be a previous employer or college tutor. Your referee cannot be a personal friend or member of the family. This is called a reference and will help the employer decide whether you are suitable for the job. It will help if your referees are able to understand, and reply to requests for a reference, in English.
Interview
An interview is your chance to make a good impression on the employer. Be sure to arrive early. Be sure to research the company beforehand to show that you are interested. You should also find out as much as you can about the job you are applying for. Prepare some questions ready to ask about the job. The employer should explain to you exactly what the job involves and give details about pay, holidays and conditions of work. If these are not clear, ask for more information.

3. Registration procedures and residence permits

Entering the UK
Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland have the right of free movement and residence in the UK. To enter the UK you do not need a visa but you will need a 10-year EEA passport or a valid national identity card, which will be checked by an immigration officer on your arrival in the UK.
If your family are EEA or Swiss nationals they can usually join you and enjoy similar rights. Non-EEA family members must get an EEA family permit before they travel to the UK if they are citizens of a country who always need visas to enter the UK, or if they are coming to stay for longer than six months. The family member should apply for this at the British Embassy or High Commission in their country of residence, before coming to the UK, Non-EEA nationals will need a visa or entry clearance for all stays in the UK over 6 months.
Working in the UK
If you are a Swiss national or a national of a country in the EEA other than Bulgaria or Romania, you do not need a work permit to work in the UK.
Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania wanting to work in the UK will need permission to work as an employee in the UK before starting work. Generally you will need an offer of employment to obtain permission to work. If you are a national of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia and are planning to work in the UK for more than one month, you must register with the ‘Worker Registration Scheme’ (WRS). Self-employed workers do not need to register on the WRS, but must register with the Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) after arrival in the UK on Tel: 0845 915 4515.
Residence Permits
If you have a right to live in the UK, you do not need a residence permit or need to register with the police. Should you wish, you can apply for a residence permit from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office. This is valid for 5 years, confirms your right to live in the UK under European Community Law and allows you to apply for residence documents for eligible family members who are not EEA citizens.

4. Working time

Your contract will state the number of hours you are expected to work and how much holiday you are entitled to. Sometimes you may be asked to work longer. You may choose to work more hours, but your employer should not force you to do so.

There are regulations that set out the maximum number of hours a person should work each week. In general young people between school leaving age, and 18 years old should work a maximum of 40 hours a week, or 8 hours a day. For workers of 18 or over the figure is 48 hours a week.

For more information and advice about working hours contact the environmental health department of your local council or the National Health and Safety Executive on Tel: 08701 545500 once you are living in the UK.

5. Incomes and taxation

Incomes
The average weekly pay in the UK in 2006 was £447. Among the highest paid were health professionals at £1,038, followed by science and technology professionals at £688. Among the lowest paid were those in sales occupations at £259 per week.
Based on weekly earnings of £259 per week, average deductions would be:
Income Tax: £20
National Insurance: £13
You will receive: £226 (net)

Living Expenses could include:
Rent (room) £40
Council Tax: £15
Travel: £10
Food/entertainment £50
Taxation
If you are living and working in the UK, you will pay tax at the same rate as a UK National. Taxes are normally payable on all income earned in the UK. The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April.
Income Tax
You can earn an amount of income in a tax year without paying income tax; this is called a tax allowance. If your income does not exceed your tax allowance, then you will not pay income tax. There are different tax allowances but on average this is £5,225 per year. You may be taxed before you reach this level of earnings, if so, you can make a claim to HM Revenue and Customs at the end of your stay in the UK and it will be refunded. Income tax is deducted directly from your salary, through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme, at the following rates:
Starting rate: 10% £0-£2,230
Basic rate: 22% £2,231-£34,600
Higher rate: 40% over £34,600
National Insurance
National Insurance payments are the equivalent of social security contributions. There are different categories of contributions - employed people pay class 1 contributions. If you earn less than £87 per week you will not make any contributions, but any income above £87 and below £670 per week will be charged at 11%. Earnings at above £670 per week are liable at 1%. Only self-employed people must pay their own National Insurance.
Council Tax
This is local taxation to pay for the public services in your area such as waste collections and the police. It is assessed on the value of your property and on the people who live there. Reductions are available if you live alone or are a student. When looking at rent prices for private accommodation, this charge is generally not included. Contact your local authority for more information.
VAT (Value Added Tax)
Generally VAT is already included in the cost of goods you buy (normally 17.5%). It is not payable on certain goods and services such as rent and childrens’ clothing.
Inheritance Tax
Inheritance Tax is payable on estates with a value of £300,000 or more. The rate is 40% on the value over and above £300,000.
Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty is a Land Tax payable whenever you buy a property. You do not have to pay stamp duty on properties purchased for £125,000 or under. The following rates apply:
0% - £125,000 or less
1% - £125,001 - £250,000
3% - £250,001 - £500,000
4% - £500,001 or more
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for Private Vehicles
VED is usually referred to as ‘Road Tax’ and is the amount you pay to use your vehicle on public roads. Vehicles registered since March 2001 are banded into 7 groups. Road tax for the majority of cars costs £140 - £205 per year depending on the type of fuel used and the vehicles emissions of CO2.

6. Cost of living

The UK is considered to be an expensive country, compared to other countries within the EU. Cost of living varies within the UK, between rural and urban areas and between towns and cities. Cities tend to be the most expensive, with London being the most expensive city in the UK. It is considered to be cheaper to live in the Midlands and the North of England, than in London and the South East.
Britain’s currency is based on the pound sterling (£), which is divided into 100 pence (100p). Current coins are: 1 penny, 2 pence, 5 pence, 10 pence, 20 pence, 50 pence, 1 pound and 2 pounds. Current bank notes are: the 5 pound note, the 10 pound note, the 20 pound note and the 50 pound note. The Euro is not used in the UK, although in a few larger department stores it may be accepted.

The costs below are average costs:
Cigarettes £5.00
Loaf of bread £0.70
Sandwich: £2.00
Cup of Coffee: £1.50
Pint of beer in pub: £2.70
Chocolate bar: £0.60
Fish and Chips: £5.00
Cinema Ticket: £6.00
Short bus journey: £1.00
Football match: £25-£40
Petrol: 0.90 per litre
Car Hire: £35 per day
2 course meal in an average restaurant: £15 per person

Buying food and clothing in large department stores will be more expensive than buying the equivalent in supermarkets. Most towns will have some form of indoor market where food, clothing and household items can be bought, and prices tend to be cheaper. Charity shops sell second-hand clothes and household goods, with the profits from the sales of these normally going to charity.
Debt is a problem for many people in the UK today and there are several organisations to offer information and advice if you are having difficulties managing money.

7. The social security system in this counrtry

National Insurance:
The UK has a government-run benefit scheme. Some benefits are based on contributions to the National Insurance (NI) scheme, which is managed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Contributions are deducted directly from salaries, at rates determined by the type of worker. This scheme provides benefits for sickness, unemployment, widowhood and retirement. The NI number records your social security contributions throughout your career.

When you start a job in the UK, your employer will need your NI number. If you do not already have one, you should apply for one at your nearest Jobcentre Plus office or by calling for an appointment on telephone 0845 600 0643 between 8.00am and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday. You should only apply for an NI number if you are about to start work and/or are making a benefit claim.

Your level of NI contributions is determined by your employment status. Category 1 workers do not pay NI if their earnings are below £87 per week They still qualify for contributions-based benefits, even if they do not pay NI, if their income is above £87 per week but below £100 per week.
-Class 1 contributions are paid by employees and their employers
-Class 2 contributions are paid by self-employed workers
-Class 3 voluntary contributions are paid by people who do not earn enough to pay NI but want to guarantee their state pension when they retire; and
-Class 4 contributions are normally paid by self-employed people who are subject to a particular section of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1998.
Jobcentre Plus
There are also various non-contributory benefits, which are available regardless of whether satisfactory NI contributions have been made. These include child allowance and benefits for disabled people, for example.
If you think you may be eligible for a benefit, you should go to your local Jobcentre, social security office or Jobcentre Plus office. They can give you advice on whether you are eligible and any specific requirements if you are not a UK citizen. Jobcentre Plus deals with all applications for benefits for people of working age.
The Pension Service
The Pension Service is part of the Department for Work and Pensions and has a network of pension centres supported by a local service. It provides information for individuals about pensions and other pensioner benefits in the UK.
The National Health Service
The National Health Service (NHS) is funded through general taxation therefore no charges are made when you use it (except for items such as prescriptions and dental care). To qualify for NHS treatment, you should register with a local health centre, which will assign you to a doctor.


Source: EURES