Life in the UK

The UK is regularly ranked as one of the world’s best places to live. With a population of 64.6million and the world's fifth largest economy, it has considerable international economic, political, scientific and cultural influence.

The UK government has produced a guide on moving to the UK and VisitBritain provides a wealth of information about UK attractions, region by region.

Unlike many agencies, we work in specialty-specific teams, meaning our understanding of your needs is second to none. Our dedicated recruitment consultants have in-depth knowledge of your job and we go the extra mile to ensure you get all the support you need.

Before travelling to the UK to start your new job, make sure you have the following:

Passport
Visa
Plane ticket
Travel insurance documents (you may wish to leave a copy of these in your home country)
Address and telephone number of your final destination
Details of your onward travel details when you get to the UK
British currency

A full list of the contents of your suitcase in case it gets lost

Enough prescribed medication for the journey. If you’re travelling with a longer-term supply of controlled drugs you may need to get a licence first.

Housing

The UK offers a wide range of housing options. Renting and buying is normally done through estate agents. Property prices vary widely across countries and regions.

Guides to buying and renting property in the UK can be found on property website Rightmove which will also give you an idea of the housing options available across the UK, and associated costs.

Council Tax

If you are buying or renting property in the UK, you will have to pay Council Tax. Information regarding how much you need to pay can be found on the Government website.

Other Living Costs

As well as housing and council tax there are also other outgoings to consider:

Utilities - Gas, water, electricity (Expatica has a useful guide to connecting to utilities in the UK).

Television Licence - The cost of the license is £154 per year for a colour television.

Living costs vary across countries and regions, with the highest costs generally found in London. This is often taken into account in salaries by including an allowance known as London weighting.

You can find an overview of the cost of living in the UK on Numbeo.

Education

In the UK, education is compulsory for all children between the ages of five (four in Northern Ireland) and 16. Schools are either state schools funded by government and are free for all pupils, or they are independent schools and charge fees to the parents of the pupils.

Education in the UK is devolved, with each of the four nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland having separate systems.

There are five stages of education, as follows:

early years

primary

secondary

further education

higher education

Children usually attend primary and secondary schools closest to where they live if there are places available. In England, you must apply through the local council for a school place.

Each school has regular inspections and you can view the reports on the Ofsted website to find out how well a school has performed.

Further education and higher education are not compulsory. Further education covers education which can be taken at colleges and higher education institutions. Higher education is study beyond GCSE, A levels and their equivalent which, for most full-time students, takes place in universities and other higher education institutions, and colleges.

The UK has some of the best universities in the world. Britain has seven universities in the top 50 of the Times Higher Education 2016 to 2017 World University Rankings including the number one rated in university in the world.

Childcare

If you have children, there are several childcare options available including nurseries, child-minders and crèches.

In England, all three and four-year-olds are entitled to 570 hours of free early education of childcare a year. As with schooling, nurseries and childcare providers are regularly inspected by Ofsted, and you can view the reports of how they are performing on the Ofsted website.

The following websites provide information and advice for parents and carers about children's learning and the English Education System.

Department for Education and Skills: is responsible for education and children's services.

Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted): Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. They regulate and inspect to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners for all ages. Local councils provide a range of education and training related services for parents and young people. Each local council will have its own policies on school term dates, admissions, transfers and pupil benefits.

Banking in the UK

The bank in your home country may have a special relationship with a bank in the UK. Therefore, we recommend that you speak to your bank before you leave for the UK.

Many UK banks also have international accounts. These are designed specifically for non-residents, so they're a good option if you don’t have the documents to prove your UK address. You may be able to apply for an international account online. Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, NatWest all offer international bank accounts.

Should you require further information on UK banking, the British Bankers Association (BBA) has a downloadable leaflet with information on how to open a bank account if you are new or are returning to the UK.

The Money Advice Service, which was set up by government, and BBA both provide a range of information about financial services

Driving in the UK

You may be able to drive in the UK (England, Wales and Scotland) for up to 12 months on your foreign licence. You can check eligibility on GOV UK as well as get information on exchanging your foreign licence for a UK licence. The process in Northern Ireland is different.

If you drive, cycle or are a pedestrian in the UK, you must comply with the Highway Code. Check if you can drive in Great Britain with your non-GB driving licence.

Exploring Britain

The Visit Britain website has lots of ideas and information about other places to see in this wonderful country.

Pet Travel

To find out the rules about bringing pets to the UK, visit Government rules - importing pets.

Transport

Google Maps is a can be used to plan journeys by public transport, car or foot.

National Rail is provides up-to-date information about rail services across the UK.

The Transport for London website is particularly useful for finding the quickest way to get around London using public transport.

Weather

The Met Office is the leading source of weather information in the UK.

The NHS

The NHS is a government-funded medical and health care service that everyone in the UK can use without being asked to pay. These services include:

Visiting your local GP surgery

Getting help and treatment at a hospital if you are unwell or injured

Seeing a midwife if you are pregnant

Getting help in an emergency