Bridging the Gap is an International Recruitment Consultancy,
which delivers UK, SA & Australian job opportunities to South Africans.

United Kingdom
helpful info

Setting up UK Bank Accounts

It can be difficult to set up a bank account in the UK; it is advisable to set up an account before you leave South Africa. Contact us NOW and we can open a UK bank account for you ASAP. Lloyds TSB.

Obtaining a National Insurance Number

Employers use your National Insurance (NI) number to deduct tax and NI contributions. Your NI contributions entitle you to be eligible for free hospital and General Practitioner services and will also enable to claim tax rebates smoothly. To obtain a NI number you must already have found employment. Once your consultancy has placed you, their payroll department will automatically issue you with a temporary NI number. It is then your responsibility to contact your local Department of Work & Pension (DWP) office to apply for a permanent NI number. You will be required to attend a brief interview. To find your nearest DWP office or to find out more information on NI please visit www.dwp.gov.uk

Tax in the UK

For those working via Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Tax and National Insurance will be deducted at source by your employer / consultancy. If you have worked in the UK before you will need to provide your new employer with your P45. For further information please visit the HM Revenues & Customs Department www.hmrc.gov.uk

Assistance on setting up a Limited Company

In the UK the tax laws are quite complex, to help, Bridging the Gap can put you in contact with a number of companies who can advise you on how to maximize your take home. If you're a contractor, probably the best solution for you will be to work through a limited company.

We recommend the you seek independent professional advice on how to establish and operate a Limited Company, this is particularly important in light of IR35, the Government's anti-tax avoidance legislation. Bridging the Gap have alliances with companies in the UK providing this service namely CXC (www.cxcuk.co.uk).

CXC are specialists in offering relocation packages for international contractors working in the UK. When working through CXC as an international contractor, you will be eligible to offset business expenses and possibly relocation expenses. You may offset these for up to 2 years if your sole intention of relocating to the UK is to take up a contract and you are seconded to the UK by another CXC Global offices.

Compliance has been an issue in relation to the UK Managed Services Company Industry in recent months. CXC only operates a fully compliant 'Umbrella' solution where CXC pay full PAYE and NI contributions on the full contractual salary.

Importantly CXC use an 'overarching contract' which not only establishes a contractor as a 'temporary worker', allowing all business expenses to be offset as stated by HMRC, but ensures that the relationship liability with the contractor falls on CXC and not you. More importantly this contract again demonstrates CXC's level of compliance eliminating liability of 'Third Party Debt' come January 8th 2008.

Money Transfers

SAT Worldwide
SAT Worldwide is a foreign currency company that offers commercial rates of exchange to private clients who have a requirement to send funds overseas. There are no costs, charges or commission and you are looked after by your own account manager who will ensure you get as much currency for your money as possible.

Contact SAT on +44 (0) 1491 577550 email: sales@satworldwide.co.uk visit www.satworldwide.co.uk

Exchange4free
Exchange4free, in partnership with Bridging The Gap, are the leading provider of international money transfer services offering you the very cheapest and simplest way to send money to South Africa.

Exchange4free guarantee that their money transfer service, rates and costs cannot be beaten! http://www.secure.exchange4free.co.uk/

Finding Accommodation in London

Most rented properties in the UK are let fully furnished enabling you to move straight in. Apart from your monthly rent you will be required to place a deposit (usually 1 month rent), you will incur additional expenses including bills, council tax (varies depending on the size of the property and the London Borough) and a TV license.

Most London estate agents will have a Lettings Department; they will also manage the property on behalf of the landlord. Alternatively you can rent directly through the landlord or investigate flat share options. Estate Agents or Landlords may require references.

Useful websites include:
www.findaproperty.com
www.loot.com
www.gumtree.com

Registering with a Doctor and Dentist

The National Health Service (NHS) is a public service, which provides free or subsidised medical treatment to British nationals and overseas nationals residing in the UK for six months or more.

If you are planning on residing in the UK for six months or more it is important to register with a local General Practitioner (GP). This will entitle you to free medical treatment. If you are not registered with a GP in an emergency you can visit the Accident & Emergency Department of any hospital.

To find your local GP please visit NHS Direct on www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. You will be asked to provide your postcode. For further information on the NHS please visit www.nhs.uk.

Dentist

Registering with a dentist isn't necessary until you need dental care. Should you need care you will have to register with a National Health dentist and you will have to pay for treatment. The British Dental Association will provide you will a list of dentists in your area. www.bda-findadentist.org.uk

UK Public (Bank) holidays
1st January	New Years Day
March/April	Good Friday & Easter Monday
First Monday in May	May Day Bank Holiday
Last Monday in May	Spring Bank Holiday
Last Monday in August	Summer Bank Holiday
25th December	Christmas Day
26th December	Boxing Day

Writing your CV and the Interview

Your CV is the first impression that you will make on a potential employer so it is important that you present yourself clearly and professionally. A strong CV can occasionally itself secure you a job especially if you are applying for temporary work. A good cover letter should always accompany your CV.

People's ideas of the perfect CV can be slightly different, however here are some basic rules:

Personal Details
Start with your personal details. Full name, date of birth and contact details including address, all useable telephone numbers and email address.

Qualifications
List your educational history and professional qualifications chronologically. You should include names of institutions and dates attended. List grades and passes attained. (These details will matter more if you have recently entered the job market). Include computer skills and foreign language skills and any other recent training/development that is relevant to the role applied for.

Employment History
In chronological order list your career history, including the name of your employer, your job title. Your responsibilities and achievements should be listed against each role with more emphasis/information put on more recent jobs. The duration/dates of employment should be added and try not omit any period of employment for whatever reason, as this may prove awkward during the interview. Try to use bulleted statements, not paragraphs to describe your job duties. Bullet points will make it easier for recruiters to read your CV.

Referee Details
Include details of referees for the last 5 years, even if you have written references. It is essential that you supply sufficient information, allowing both your recruitment consultant and potential employers to contact your referees, regardless of whether they are in the UK or abroad.

Personal Interests
Briefly highlight your interests and hobbies.

General Tips on your CV

Your CV should ideally be two to three pages. Aim to ensure the content is clear, structured, concise and relevant. Using bullet points rather than full sentences can help minimise word usage.

A basic CV may need tailoring with each job application to best suit the requirements of the role applied for.

The completed CV needs to be checked carefully for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes - which always leave a poor impression - and to ensure that it makes sense. Ask an independent party to review the whole document. Also to make sure that it's a clear representation of yourself, that it is relevant and that it will encourage the employer to contact you to find out more.

Interview Advice

Research shows that people make their mind up about someone in the first few seconds of meeting with them. No matter how well qualified you may seem on paper for a job, when recruiting, an employer will still be interested in your personality and presentation.

London is a competitive market and there is likely to be a number of suitable applicants for a role so interview performance is often the deciding factor.

Useful tips for interviews

• Double check the date, time and location of the interview and be familiar with the name and title of the interviewer.
• Take your interview confirmation letter with you.
• To ensure you arrive in plenty of time familiarise yourself with the journey to the interview location. Check timetables and book train tickets in advance.
• Be punctual for your meeting but it is inadvisable to arrive more than half an hour early.
• Dress in a formal business suit. Don't wear casual clothes even if you know it is company policy.
• Take any requested certificates, references etc, a spare CV and a notepad and pen. A mobile phone is always useful, but ensure it is turned OFF before arrival at reception.
• Remember that you start making an impression on your prospective employer the moment you arrive at reception.
• Be courteous to the receptionist and any other staff you may meet prior to your interview. Their opinion of you is often sought and may even have some influence on the final selection.

Research

Find out as much information as possible about your prospective employer in advance. Many companies now have websites, which are packed with information.

Familiarise yourself with:

• The companies mission statement
• Specific facts about the company
• It's products and services
• The companies past performance
• Its future growth potential

It is very important to prepare a number of questions to ask the interviewer at an appropriate time during the interview. This shows interest in their company and can make you stand out amongst the competition.

The Interview

Greet your interviewer standing, with a strong, firm handshake and a smile. Good body language is vital. Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Speak clearly and confidently. Try and maintain a comfortable level of eye contact throughout.

A standard interview will generally start with an introductory chat, moving on to questions specific to your application and experience. General information about the company and role may follow, finishing with an opportunity for you to ask your own questions.

Be familiar with your CV and prepared to answer questions from it. Ensure you have read any job description thoroughly and think of ways in which your experience will benefit your potential employer.

It is very important that you listen to what is being asked of you. Think about your answers to more difficult questions and be concise, do not give irrelevant information. Give positive examples from your experience to date.

Be ready to ask questions that you have prepared beforehand. This can demonstrate you have thought about the role and done some research on the organisation. Ensure the questions are open, thus encouraging the interviewer to provide you with additional information.

Show your enthusiasm for the role, even if you have some reservations. These can be discussed at a later stage.