Big British Giveaway

Moove2London is excited to announce that we’ve teamed up with the Big British Giveaway, Big Aussie Giveaway and Big American Giveaway and will be giving 12 lucky people the chance to win some free email consultations helping them with their move to London in 2012. Some prizes help with C.Vs and job-seeking, whereas others assist with accommodation and residential area selection. The fantastic services that we’re giving away for free in January are also now available to purchase. More details about this on our Relocation Services page.

The giveaways will take place on the following dates:

In Australia:
Sydney – 4th January
Melbourne – 4th January
Brisbane – 4th January

In America:
New York – 4th January
Washington – 4th January
Texas – 4th January

In the UK:
Sheffield – 10th January
Birmingham – 11th January
Leicester – 11th January
Leeds – 13th January
Manchester – 13th January
Liverpool – 14th January
Bradford – 14th January
Coventry – 16th January
Bristol – 18th January

Youth unemployment in London

Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics suggest that youth unemployment in the UK has now hit 1 million. It also seems that foreign workers are getting more jobs than homegrown British talent. As an example, the popular fast food franchise Pret A Manger has at least 2 shops in London that don’t employ any British staff at all.
The number of British-born workers has decreased by 850 people a day at a time when foreign workers has increased by around 495 a day.
Unofficially, the common mentalities behind choosing to employ workers from overseas rather than Brits, appear to include reasons such as a)foreign workers are happier to work for less money than Brits, b) they are harder-working than British people and c) they’re more likely to turn up on time.

Of course this may come as welcome news if you are moving to London from abroad. But what should you do if you’re an out of work Londoner, or are thinking of moving down to London in the near future?

First of all, you need to decide what kind of job you’re willing to do. If you’re a graduate and are happy to wait a while, going through extensive recruitment processes before being employed in the job of your dreams, then this is fine so long as you can afford to do so. But you might be better off making do with what we call survival jobs, which will help keep the bills paid, your CV nicely padded out and hopefully keep you sane whilst you interview for a more appropriate job for you.

Obviously the evidence above makes it sound like if you’re a Brit then you won’t manage to get any type of work. This is a particularly negative slant on a bad situation. There are still jobs out there so long as you don’t mind working for a little while in shops, pubs or restaurants. But if you do manage to secure one of these roles, then don’t blow it by proving to bosses why they should stick to employing foreign workers over Brits. It may not be the job of your dreams, but turning up on time and putting some effort in during working hours are the basics of holding down a job. At least until something better comes along.

Can you move to London with no money?

It’s that time of year when many final year students graduate, have a bit of a holiday and then think ‘yikes, what next?’, so the question that we’re asking and answering is ‘Can you move to London with no money?’.

Let’s look at what you’ll need money for when you first move to London.

Accommodation

The biggest wallet zapper of all is the cost of your accommodation, whether it be short-term accommodation such as a hostel, or moving into shared rental accommodation, where you’ll usually need to pay rent and a deposit up front. Of course assuming that we’re not referring to park benches, then a way to avoid paying any accommodation costs when you first move to London is to take up rent-free residence on the sofa or in the spare room of a very understanding friend, family member or romantic interest. If you’re lucky enough to be able to choose this as an option, then thank your lucky stars and make sure that you don’t take advantage. Keep up more than your fair share of domestic duties to keep your hosts happy whilst you’re in residence and be extremely proactive in looking for work and alternative accommodation so that they don’t start to panic that this situation is forever.

Travel

Getting around London can be expensive, but it all really depends on where you’re based and where you need to get to. If you happen to be staying somewhere fairly near Central London and you’re interviewing for jobs and visiting agencies also in Central London, then you may possibly be able to get by without paying for public transport. Instead, if you have a bike, then you could cycle or even walk if you’re really energetic. But if not, then you’ll need to cough up a bit of cash for an Oyster card. You can purchase this in advance of moving to London – visit tfl.gov.uk/oyster for details – basically you pay £5 deposit for a pre-pay Oyster card, then add some credit to it and you can use it until you run out of credit.

Food and Drink

Unless you have exceptionally understanding hosts, you’ll also require some money to pay for food and drink to keep yourself functioning! If you genuinely don’t have any money until you find work, then you’re probably going to have to use a credit card or take out a small loan until you do find a job in London. Not ideal, but neither is starving.

These are the 3 main areas that you’ll require finances for when you first move to London. Of course, the way to give yourself a head start in obtaining money for work is to have started your job searching before you arrive in London.

If you’re UK-based (or from overseas) then the easiest thing to do is to upload your C.V to Monster which is totally free to do and makes your information available to headhunters from big London firms.

If you’re from overseas, then before you leave home you should definitely take a look at this Kickstart package, which as well as providing you with C.V and job assistance, also sorts you out with a UK bank account, National Insurance number, UK SIM card, free accommodation assistance and loads of other helpful services.

So in answer to the question, ‘can you move to London with no money?’, the answer is a technical ‘yes’. Given the right situation and some extremely helpful contacts, you could just about survive in London for a short while with no startup funds. Is it advisable? Probably not. It’s almost always a good idea to have some savings, however minimal, before you relocate to any new location, and London is no exception to this logic.

Getting a National Insurance Number for Working in London

If you’re moving to London (or elsewhere in the UK) from abroad, you’ll need to apply immediately for a National Insurance (NI) number and pay contributions like other people who normally live and work here.

The National Insurance Number is the number used by the government to track your taxes and national insurance contributions. Everyone who wants to work in the UK needs one and you must be in the UK before the government will issue your number. If you do not have your NI number you will be paying emergency tax.

There are 2 ways to apply for your NI number:

1. 1st Contact offers an Easy NINO service where they can assist you with your entire NI number application. For a small fee of £30 they remove all the hassle, make the calls, do some paperwork for you and guarantee your NI number within 2-4 weeks. 1st Contact will also provide you with a letter of employment if you haven’t started working yet. (1st Contact Kickstart clients receive the Easy NINO service at a discounted fee of £17.50)

Simply:
1. Complete the online questionnaire
2. Sign the postal application form OR attend the Evidence of Identity Interview that 1st Contact will arrange for you
3. Receive your NI Number in 2-4 weeks (often sooner!)

Purchase your National Insurance Number online

2. You can apply for an NI number at your JobCentre Plus on +44 (0) 845 600 0643. Depending on your passport and visa details; you will either need to arrange an interview, or have the application posted to you. Please bear in mind that interviews can take up to six weeks to book, and a further four weeks for you to be allocated a permanent NI number. The JobCentre can be unreliable at times so occasionally they fail to post you your application or NI number.
You will need to provide the following documents to apply for your NI number:
1. Proof of identity, which can be your passport you are legally entitled to work in the UK with.
2. Proof of employment or recruitment agency that you are actively seeking work.
3. Proof of residence, which can be a utility bill or UK bank statement.

Opening a bank account in the UK, when arriving from overseas

Once you’ve moved to London, or elsewhere in the UK, you’re most likely going to require a bank account- whether it’s for receiving a salary, or paying bills.

In order to open a bank account in the UK, the banks are required by law (to combat money laundering) to know a great deal about their customers. Therefore, new customers must present documentary forms of I.D to prove their identities.

The two main types of I.D that are required are

a) Photographic I.D

b) Proof of address

You will need original copies of all documentation, photocopies are not acceptable.

The photo I.D part should be fairly easy to produce, as if you’ve recently arrived in the country from overseas, the chances are that you’ll have your passport with you.

The address part isn’t quite so easy. If you have a copy of a tenancy agreement with your new address, this would be ideal. If not, and you’re working, you could get a letter from your current employer, complete with payslips stating your address. If you’re a student, speak to your university about writing a letter proving you’re resident at the university -in halls or other student accommodation. You should also take proof of a previous address in your home country, so that the bank can do a reference check on you, with your signed permission.

Fortunately 1st Contact, a company focused on helping new arrivals to the UK, who are the longest running relocation company for working travellers heading to the UK, offer a fee free UK bank account with a Kickstart package that will make your life easier and save you loads of time when you first arrive.

1st Contact Kickstart Package

1st Contact is the longest running relocation company for working travellers heading to the UK. The Kickstart package is the best way to remove the stress of relocating and help you settle comfortably into your new London life. It is great value for money and saves a lot of time and hassle allowing you to start enjoying your UK experience sooner.

The Kickstart package, which costs only AUS$85, NZ$99, R390 in SA, and £35 in the UK, includes:
 UK Bank account
You have a choice of four different banks, HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds TSB or Metro Bank.
 UK National Insurance Number Assistance
Avoid paying emergency Tax by registering for your NI Number.
 A UK SIM card
Pay & Go SIM card has cheap international call rates and data download. Receive your UK number before you leave home!
 Free International money transfer
Send your money to your new UK bank account for free with 1st Contact Forex.
 Pre registration to 1st Contact Umbrella
Working in a temporary contract position in the UK? 1st Contact Umbrella can help you increase your take home pay and claim back a part of your relocation costs including your flights!
 CV and Job Assistance
1st Contact Job Assistance work with over 100 of the UK’s premier recruitment agencies and they can help to find you a job before you leave home.
 Free Accommodation Assistance
We teamed up with a network of accommodation providers to suit your budget, from private studio apartments to hostels.
 Free 5 days gym membership
PLUS discounted gym contract.
 UK informative Guide
Everything you need to know about London from the transport system, the UK tax system, the healthcare system, UK sporting events, driving, entertainment, finding work, travelling abroad and lots more.
 PLUS
Discounts on 1st Contact Services and affiliated partners including tax refunds, shipping, accommodation and tour operators.
 Optional Additional Extras
EURO Travel Money Card, A-Z London Guide, TNT Little Black Book and Mobile Broadband Dongle

How it works?
Once completing the Kickstart application a Kickstart consultant will be in contact with your Kickstart reference code and further details about the package.
The 1st Contact London office will contact you pre-departure and you will personalise your own Kickstart package and choose your appropriate bank appointment time online.
You can either collect your Kickstart pack from the 1st Contact office in London or we can arrange to have your package posted to your UK address. You’ll attend your pre booked bank appointment with your passport and ‘Kickstart bank letter’, which is provided to you in your Kickstart pack. The bank consultant will assist you in opening your bank account and provide your bank account details on the same day. Once your account is open, you will receive your bank documents within 7-10 working days.

VERY IMPORTANT: You must bring your passport (showing your visa with your entitlement to work in the UK) to both the 1st Contact office and bank meeting.
If you cannot attend a bank appointment in London, then your bank account can be opened with HSBC via a postal application in the UK. Alternatively 1st Contact offers a Pre Departure bank account where you can open your UK bank account before you leave home.

Apply for your 1st Contact Kickstart Package now.

Relocate to London in 2011

It’s the New Year and there’s nothing like a cold January morning to give you a kick up the backside and start making some plans for the blank canvas that is 2011. Now the festivities have well and truly subsided, it’s time to start thinking about your move to London.

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a quiet time of year for people moving in and out of London, it’s actually quite busy. Australians and New Zealanders tend to move to London during their summer (which is now), so you’ll need to be on top of your game in order to get ahead of the competition and secure the best accommodation and temp jobs.

Accommodation

The first thing you need to decide is where you want to live in London. This will probably be determined by a number of factors, such as your budget, proximity to potential workplace and where your existing friends live.
If you’re not sure about residential areas of London, then please take a look at our North London, South London, East London and West London pages.

Next up, it’s really wise to place an ad for FREE with Easyroommate, who are an excellent flatmate finding service. You can request a room, or search for available rooms all over London.

Jobs

Totaljobs.com have stated that the first quarter of 2011 could be tough for jobseekers, due to ‘external influences like the VAT increase and continued instability in European markets’ meaning that recruiters may play it safe until they can see what is happening with our economy.

This may sound quite bleak, but what it actually means, is that there could well be a rise in temp work available in London. Please look at our Working in London page for information on how to approach working as a ‘temp’ in London.

In the meantime though, there’s nothing to stop you from looking for a permanent job. There may be less jobs available but companies are still hiring. For those of you who are ‘Apprentice’ fans, take a leaf out of runner-up Chris Bates’s book, who prior to appearing on the show managed to secure a job as an investment banker with JP Morgan after completing his degree at Nottingham University.

In order to get ahead of the game, make sure your C.V is totally and utterly polished and upload it for FREE to Monster. It’s a great service, where as well as searching for available vacancies, you can include your C.V in the pool which recruiters look at to hand pick the best of the best to invite to interviews for jobs which they don’t even bother advertising.
It’s a bit of a pain, but only approximately 1/3 of London jobs are officially advertised. The rest are filled by recruitment agencies, word of mouth and candidate selection sites such as Monster.

We’ve given you some starting points here for your move to London in 2011. Happy New Year from everyone here at Moove2London and we wish you the best of luck for your move.

Facewatch in London

For those of you who are concerned about crime in London, you’ll be pleased to hear about the Facewatch scheme that has recently been piloted in the Victoria area of the capital.

Facewatch relies on businesses such as shops, restaurants, pubs and hotels to join their scheme and share information by means of the Facewatch database, which targets low level crime, such as shoplifting and bag theft.

Facewatch makes it as easy as possible for victims to report such crime. When an incident occurs, the business uploads details of the crime online, which takes approximately 5 minutes. The victim will receive a crime number straightaway without having to report it to the police separately. Information about the crime can then be shared across the Facewatch database, which maximises the chance of apprehending the criminals, particularly those who operate in a specific local area. Facewatch is also in partnership with CPP (Card Protection Plan), meaning that after a crime has occurred, it’s possible to cancel ALL of your credit cards and get free replacements sent out to you, just by making one phone call.

The scheme has so far been piloted in 31 businesses in the Victoria where one it’s success stories resulted in a serial bag thief being caught within 24 hours of being uploaded to the Facewatch database.

For businesses who are interested in joining the Facewatch scheme, prices start at £15 a month (for businesses with a turnover of up to £500k p.a). As well as the ability to report crimes happening on your premises, you’ll also receive stickers and posters to advertise the fact that your business is a member of Facewatch. This acts as a massive deterrent to criminals and is also extremely attractive to your customers who will love the fact that you are doing something proactive to safeguard them and their property.

For more information, visit facewatch.co.uk

Where to have Christmas Day lunch in London

Christmas 2010 is only 35 days away and for those of you who will be staying in London this Christmas, you may be starting to wonder what you’ll be doing for Christmas Day itself.

If you have family to go to then great, but for others, we have some great ideas for where you can eat your Christmas lunch.

Eat it at home

Seriously, if there are a bunch of you (perhaps from overseas), sticking around in London this year, then eating Christmas lunch at home doesn’t have to be an earache. It can be heaps of fun and you can save a lot of money compared to eating out. Consider getting a massive shop in from a supermarket such as Sainsburys. If you spend enough (often more than £100), then you’ll get free delivery. If ever there is a time of year to get a supermarket shop delivered to you, it’s at Christmas, as the supermarket aisles are rammed and deeply unpleasant.

Youngs Pubs

The pub company Youngs, have a multitude of pubs dotted throughout London – some in Central London, some in the residential areas. Not all of them choose to be open on Christmas Day, but there are some lovely menus on offer at pubs such as the Dulwich WoodHouse in Sydenham, The Grove in Balham, The Alexandra in Wimbledon, The Flask in Hampstead and The Grange in Ealing. The price of a Christmas lunch at each establishment differs per pub, but in general you should expect to pay between £50 and £60 per adult for a welcome cocktail, 3 course meal, coffee and mincepie. Check out christmas.youngs.co.uk/christmasday for further details.

Christmas Day Lunch Cruise

Splash (!) out a bit on your Christmas Day Lunch and buy a ticket aboard a City Cruise boat trip on the Thames.
Departing from Westminster Pier at 12.30pm, you’ll receive a welcome drink, a 105 minute river boat cruise, 4 course meal, coffee and mints and a christmas cracker. The cost of your ticket will be £105 including VAT. You should be aware that aside from your welcome drink, alcohol does not come as part of the ticket price, although a cash bar will be in operation. To book, visit citycruises.com

Gordon Ramsay at Claridges

Go all out on the Christmas Day dining experience and indulge in a 7 course feast at the Central London restaurant – Claridges (W1K 4HR). It will set you back approximately £185 before you add alcohol or a discretionary 12.5% service charge, but it’ll certainly be a Christmas to tell the grandkids about! Visit gordonramsay.com/claridges for further details.

Browns Brasseries

The Browns restaurants located in Islington and West India Quay (not the ones in Mayfair, Covent Garden or Old Jewry) will be open on Christmas Day. They’re serving a delicious and truly varied 4 course Christmas menu for £60 a head (or £30 for children under the age of 12).
Visit browns-restaurants.co.uk for further details.

If you are considering eating out for lunch on Christmas Day 2010, then we would urge you to book as soon as possible. Once you’ve found somewhere that you’d like to eat, then please speak to the staff there about your booking, as it’s most likely that you’ll have to put down a deposit and often choose the food which you would like to be served in advance of Christmas Day.

Happy Christmas !

Antipodate – dating website aimed at Antipodeans

Whilst not geographically accurate, the term ‘antipodean’ is used (in the UK at least) to describe inhabitants of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and sometimes also Zimbabwe. With so many antipodeans living in London, it makes perfect sense that a dating website exists to connect singles from the Southern hemisphere with each other.

So luckily, Antipodate has been set up for this very reason.

Internet dating is extremely popular in London – perhaps it’s because everyone has access to the world wide web, whether it be at work, at home, on their mobile or in an Internet cafe. Or perhaps we choose to meet our dates online because we’re so busy experiencing London, that Internet dating is just a more convenient way to find Mr or Ms Right….
…. But whatever the reason, in London at least, Internet dating is widespread, 21st century and has absolutely no stigma attached to it.

How does Antipodate work?

First of all, you sign up for FREE! and create a basic account which includes adding information about yourself, you should also add a photo. Whilst it’s not compulsory to add a photo, your profile will receive a lot more attention than if you opt to omit a picture of yourself. Antipodate chooses to put profiles with photos at the top of their search results list. Think about it – would you seriously organise a date with someone when you haven’t seen a picture of them?

A basic membership allows you to do the following:

• Make basic contact with another member (eg send them a kiss)
• Receive and view messages from other members – very exciting!
• You can add other members to your ‘Favourites’ list
• Conduct searches across the Antipodate database
• View your Sent and Received messages
• Register for competitions and dating events

As with most dating sites, there is also the opportunity to upgrade to a premium membership.
The premium membership option with Antipodate allows you to do ALL the things that a basic member can do, but you can also send personalised email messages to ANY member of the Antipodate database. So let’s say you see someone’s photo and profile that you like. As a basic member you can send them a ‘kiss’ and then wait and see if they can be bothered to get in touch with you. But if you’re a premium member, then you can send them a more personal and flirty (if you wish) message which allows you a much better chance of securing a date.

The costs associated with this upgrade are actually really reasonable on Antipodate. It’s either £7.95 for 1 month, £13.95 for 2 months, £18.95 for 3 months or £23.95 for 6 months.

Obviously if you were to choose the £23.95 for 6 months option, then it’s the most cost effective (it works out at £3.99 a month), but why not be more optimistic about your chances of finding love and opt for the 3 month £18.95 which works out at £6.31 per month and is less than buying you and your date your first drink!

Antipodate also offers you access to some of the best types of London dating events in the capital. Speed-dating is always a popular one, but you can also enjoy an evening doing activities such as wine-tasting, bowling, dancing and much more.

If you’re a single Aussie, Kiwi, Saffer or Zimbo living in London, then sign up for FREE with Antipodate today – what have you got to lose?