Living and Working in the UK

Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 14
PART ONE......Page 18
Britain's Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies......Page 20
Living in the UK......Page 21
Key facts and figures......Page 22
The UK's capital......Page 23
Brief history of Britain......Page 24
Overview and history of the monarchy......Page 28
Overview of UK government......Page 32
About politics parties......Page 35
Government working at a local level......Page 39
Introduction to devolution......Page 44
What is the EU?......Page 57
EU size and key figures at a glance......Page 62
The UK as a member state......Page 64
The European Parliament......Page 66
PART TWO......Page 68
3 Managed migration......Page 70
Citizenship......Page 74
What is the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme?......Page 75
How long will I be allowed to stay as a Highly Skilled Immigrant?......Page 80
Can my family join me in the UK?......Page 81
Company requirements......Page 82
Individual requirements......Page 83
How do I qualify to join my spouse or partner in the UK?......Page 85
How do I qualify to join my fiancé, fiancée or proposed partner in the UK?......Page 86
How do I qualify to join my unmarried or same-sex partner in the UK?......Page 87
Do I have a right of residence in the UK?......Page 89
What right do I have if I want to work in the UK?......Page 90
Your family's rights......Page 91
How do I qualify?......Page 94
How much and what type of employment can I undertake?......Page 95
Student visa......Page 96
Ancestry visa......Page 99
Visitor visa......Page 101
Entry clearance......Page 103
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)......Page 105
Long residency visa......Page 107
10 Registration as a British Citizen......Page 108
11 Proposed immigration policy......Page 111
PART THREE......Page 116
The main job sectors and what you can expect......Page 118
Where to find work......Page 124
Applying for jobs......Page 128
CV structure......Page 130
General tips......Page 131
Effective CVs – a standard two-page printed CV......Page 133
How to write the perfect cover letter......Page 135
Examples of typical CV content and layouts......Page 137
How to research companies......Page 142
Pre-interview planning......Page 143
References......Page 145
Some other useful tips......Page 146
Top ten interview questions – and how you should answer them......Page 147
Other questions an employer may ask......Page 150
What to expect from an assessment centre......Page 151
What can an assessment centre consist of?......Page 153
Psychometric tests......Page 155
Presentation exercise......Page 158
Temporary employment......Page 159
Employed or self-employed?......Page 160
Tips on keeping your job in the UK......Page 161
Student visa overview......Page 162
Finding a UK-based course......Page 163
Vocational and further education......Page 165
Postgraduate courses......Page 166
Study methods in the UK......Page 167
UK academic culture......Page 174
Sources of advice and help......Page 175
Attending UK interviews to finalise your place on a course......Page 176
Studying for six months or more......Page 177
Bringing a dependant to the UK while you study......Page 178
New rules about student support for EU nationals......Page 179
Student Discount Card......Page 182
Other useful student information sites......Page 183
Your contract of employment......Page 184
Two kinds of employment right......Page 185
Your rights timetable......Page 186
Your working time rights......Page 188
Family friendly? Rights for parents......Page 189
Your dismissal rights......Page 190
Health and safety......Page 191
Taking a case to an employment tribunal......Page 192
More advice......Page 193
Obtaining a National Insurance number......Page 195
Taxation......Page 196
Taxation for company owners......Page 197
Forming your own company......Page 198
Public limited companies......Page 204
What else must I tell Companies House?......Page 207
Further information......Page 209
Registering and charging VAT......Page 210
After registration......Page 211
Choosing childcare......Page 212
Overview of the education system......Page 215
Successful schools......Page 217
Understanding the National Curriculum for England......Page 218
Choosing schools......Page 220
School term dates and holidays......Page 223
Colleges and universities......Page 224
Backpacker and student housing in London......Page 226
Types of longer-term accommodation......Page 227
Before renting in the UK – additional costs and considerations......Page 228
Deciding where to live......Page 230
Buying a house......Page 231
Renting......Page 235
About the NHS......Page 237
About NHS Direct Online and the NHS Direct telephone service......Page 238
NHS walk-in centres......Page 239
Registering with a doctor......Page 240
Prescriptions......Page 241
All the contacts you need......Page 242
Private health schemes......Page 243
Driving in the UK......Page 245
London Congestion Charge......Page 248
Buses......Page 250
Black cabs and licensed minicabs......Page 253
London Underground (LU)......Page 254
National Rail......Page 255
Shipping/air freight......Page 258
Pets to the UK......Page 259
Before you depart for the UK......Page 260
Links from the main airports......Page 262
Public phone boxes......Page 263
Useful contacts......Page 264
29 Lifestyle and leisure......Page 265
Leisure activities......Page 266
Where to go and what to do......Page 268
Top tourist attractions in London......Page 269
Other top UK attractions......Page 270
Need more ideas on things to do?......Page 271
Currency in the UK......Page 272
Cost of living......Page 273
Opening a bank account......Page 275
Banks and building societies......Page 276
Postage system......Page 277
Voting – who can vote?......Page 280
Media......Page 281
Internet and telephones......Page 283
Refuse collection......Page 284
Religion......Page 285
Bank and public holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland......Page 287
Weather and climate......Page 289
Fitness......Page 290
31 Crossing the cultural divide......Page 292
What is culture shock?......Page 293
A model of culture shock......Page 294
Effects of culture shock......Page 295
How to help yourself......Page 296
Embassies and high commissions......Page 297
For international students......Page 299
British Tourist Authority......Page 300
Transport......Page 301
L......Page 302
W......Page 303