International Relocation Support

Why come to United Kingdom?

Did you know that the United Kingdom is one of world's most popular places to live? The United Kingdom (UK) is made up of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland and is a member of the European Union (EU).

Britain is a leading commercial, financial and industrial nation, a member of the G8 it has one of the strongest economies in the world and is currently enjoying a low unemployment rate and low inflation with earnings well above EU averages. For these reasons amongst others, overseas healthcare professions are flocking here and are choosing the UK as their top destination to live and work. Inspired International has already helped hundreds of people like you to make the move with our professional bespoke services!

Living in the UK

Working is just part of the amazing British experience. Our friendly people, solid economy, mild climate and lively multicultural cities make it a marvellous place to live and work. The UK offers some of the best educational institutions in the world, as well as excellent job opportunities and career prospects in many different areas of employment. It is also a very popular tourist destination, with one of the main attractions being its very historical and cultural heritage.

Geographically the UK is very diverse, with a wide variety of landscapes. Although there are vast areas of countryside, most of the population lives in town and cities. Around four fifths of the population lives in England, and around 40% in the major conurbation's of London, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle upon Tyne.

It might be a stereotype but the British do love talking about the weather. Often unpredictable but rarely extreme, the British Isles has a mild temperate climate, with winter temperatures moderated by the warm Gulf Stream. Winter temperatures very rarely fall below freezing, and in summer temperatures rarely exceed the high 20's (80°F). Rain falls throughout the year and there is an average annual rainfall of more than 1,000 mm (40 in). Snow sometimes falls in winter, especially in Scotland, northern England and the Welsh mountains.

Travaling In the UK

The UK has an extensive transport system, with motorways, railways and air travel all highly developed. Most urban areas also have extensive public transport systems which provide commuters with affordable travel. Due to the country's unique history and economic importance, the UK is one of the primary hubs for international travel, with air links to and from virtually every other country. The main airports are London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham and Manchester. There are also some 20 other international airports serving virtually every metropolitan area throughout the UK. Travelling to Europe and Ireland from the UK is easy with amazingly cheap flights to a variety of European destinations courtesy of airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet. Get away for the weekends to cities such as Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam or Barcelona which are only an hour or two away.

More Information

Inspired International’s experienced consultants are available at the click of a mouse to give advice on all aspects of living and working in the UK. Where better to get this advice than from people who have lived and worked in the UK for most of their lives? Inspired International have created our own comprehensive guide to living and working in Britain, which includes information on accommodation, bank accounts, healthcare, transport, cost of living as well as many other really useful topics. You can obtain our guide once you are registered, please ask your consultant about this.

International Assistance

Now you're here

You’ve arrived in the UK safely, you’ve found temporary accommodation, and phoned home to let everyone know all’s going well. What should you do next? Apart from checking in with your Inspired International consultant (of course), below are some essential tips to help you better settle in.

Get mobile
Connect yourself to a reliable mobile phone network as soon as possible: if we can’t get hold of you easily, you could miss out on a brilliant job opportunity. Pay-as-you-go packages tend to be a popular immediate choice, as they don’t require a long-term commitment. You might even be able to use your existing handset via a SIM card only option. Just remember to let us know your new number!
Reference check
Prepare to be consistently asked for signed references on headed paper, as well as for referee contact details. If you didn’t bring hardcopies of your references and qualification certificates with you, now’s the time to chase them. Ask a trusted friend back home to post them across. If they are available to you on email, print out several copies.
Go public
Pick up maps of your local public transport networks and familiarise yourself with the ticket systems/prices. Getting to know these transport links will ensure that you arrive on time for interviews. You’ll also start to discover which locations are accessible for you to work from.
De-crease
Take your crumpled suit out of that suitcase and take it to the dry-cleaners. You need to be presentable at a moment’s notice for interviewing. And shine your shoes whilst you’re at it.
Banking
If you pre-arranged a bank account from home, visit your local branch to collect your banking effects. If you didn’t have time to set one up from abroad, you will need to wait until you have proof of UK address and earnings before being able to open an account. Providing proof of address from back home (e.g. a utility bill) too may help speed up the process. If you have secured employment through Inspired International, we will happily recommend you to our nominated bank,
Income tax
Expect to pay Income Tax and National Insurance contributions on your wages through a system called Pay As You Earn (PAYE). When you start your first UK job you will need to fill in and sign a P46 form, to be issued a tax code. Thereafter you will be given a P45 form (which records your pay and tax deductions) when you stop working for an employer. Retain one sheet for your records and give the rest to your next employer. At the end of the tax year you will receive a P60 – an annual summary of your pay and the tax that was deducted. Consult www.hmrc.gov.uk for further information.
National Insurance (NI)
NI contributions are payments made by the employed towards social security benefits and the costs of the National Health Service. You will need an NI number when registering with a doctor or dentist and to help along the tax refund process. Apply for one once you start working, by booking the necessary identity interview with your local Department for Work and Pensions office: visit www.dwp.gov.uk for more information. It is notoriously difficult to get through to them - persist regardless.
About accommodation
It’s best to have a landlord reference available when searching for a new mooring. Invest some time into tracking one down from your last landlord, if you forgot to bring one over with you. On another note, bills won’t necessarily be included in your rent so double check before signing on the dotted line. Take additional charges into account in your budget, such as council tax and a TV license.
TV license
Yes, you are required by law to buy a license to use a television or any other device to receive/record TV programmes (e.g. a VCR, set-top box, DVD recorder or PC with a broadcast card). Visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk for full details.
Doctors and dentists
The public National Health Service (NHS) offers free or subsidised medical treatment to those residing in the UK for six months or more. Consult www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk to find a local General Practitioner (GP) to register with. In the meantime, the Accident & Emergency department of any hospital will be open to you. Locate your nearest dentist at www.bda-findadentist.org.uk Remember to have your NI number to hand.