Great Britain is an island in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a united kingdom with a lot of history and a very strong economy. Because of the strong economy, it is of course more than logical that more and more young Europeans are leaving for the United Kingdom to work there. The economy not only continues to grow, but unemployment also continues to fall. The country also has a great appeal because of the English language. Many Dutch people speak English well and therefore choose England. This way they do not have to deal with a language barrier and they do not have to follow an extra course for this. Are you going emigrate to England or do you also want to work in the United Kingdom? Then this article might help you with that.
International job boards
When you are going to work in England, you will of course first have to look for a job by means of open vacancies. When you search online, you will come across many international job boards. These can be, for example, Indeed, Monsterboard or Jobsite. On these websites you often have a wide range of vacancies. The handy thing about these websites is that you can add filters. For example, with the help of filters you can only find employers who are looking for Dutch personnel among the latest vacancies. Do you also like companies to send you offers? Then you can put your CV on the public list so that they can see you online.
A little tip:
When you apply for a job in England, you do not need to add a photo to your CV. In England, photos in your CV are prohibited. This is due to possible discrimination. Pay close attention to everything and make sure you adjust your CV before you start looking for jobs in England.
The English culture
You would think that a country that is so close to the Netherlands cannot be very different in terms of culture. However, this is certainly not the case. The English are very polite at first, for example. For example, a 'please' is added to every request and it is really a 'no-go' to cut in line in a shop.
Culture in the workplace
In England it is not at all customary to discuss personal matters right away. You only do this when you know someone a lot better. Also, the Dutch are a lot more direct than the English. People in England will not quickly say what they think of something and will rather beat around the bush.
No poldering
They also don't like to negotiate in England and there is a clear hierarchy on the work floor. Often you even have to ask permission from your boss to give your opinion. This is of course completely different from what we are used to in the Netherlands and it takes some getting used to for us Dutch people to live and work in England. However, you will notice that nowadays in the big cities of Scotland or for example in a big city like London you can encounter less hierarchy on the work floor due to the many emigrants and expats.
Do you need a work permit in England?
You probably know that England is no longer part of the European Union (EU) since Brexit in 2020. Therefore, there are a few things to keep in mind these days. As a popular travel destination, not much has changed. The only difference is that you now need a valid passport to enter the country and you can no longer do this with an identity card.
However, working in England is a completely different story. If you want to work in England these days, you will have to deal with the strict British immigration system and you will need a work permit to be able to work in the country. There is no exception for Dutch people and you are also required to register yourself. The British immigration system works on a points basis. Do you want to be eligible for a work permit? Then of course you first need an offer of work. In addition, you must meet the minimum annual salary and you must be proficient in English. Practically everyone from other countries has to deal with this.
A special service sector
Do you work in healthcare in the Netherlands? Healthcare personnel is what England is looking for. They get a visa much faster and have easier conditions to meet. Are there other skills that you have a good knowledge of? Maybe you can go to the website of the embassy of great britain check whether you are also eligible for an expedited application for your work visa.
The hourly wage in the United Kingdom
How high the minimum wage in England is depends on the age and personal situation of an employee. Below we explain this briefly:
- Are you 23 years or older? Then you are entitled to the 'National Living Wage'.
- Are you younger than 23? Then you are entitled to the 'National Minimum Wage'.
- Are you still studying? Then you are entitled to the 'Apprentice Rate'
National Living Wage – 23+
Since 2021, the minimum wage for those aged 23 and over is £8.91 per hour (gross) which is approximately €10.47. This of course does not apply to self-employed people.
National Minimum Wage – 23-
If you are under 23 years of age, the minimum hourly wage (gross) is calculated based on your age:
- Under 18 – £4.62
- 18-20 years – £6.56
- 21-22 years – £8.36
Apprentice rate
When an apprentice is under 19 years of age and when an apprentice is over 19 years of age and in the first year of their apprenticeship they will receive £4.30 (gross) per hour.
If the student is at the end of the first year and is 19 years or older, he is entitled to the 'National Minimum Wage' or the 'National Living Wage'.
The average salary
We would like to give you an example of someone who is 23 years or older and who works full-time, i.e. 40 hours a week.
If you work 40 hours a week and do this 52 weeks a year, you will end up with 2080 hours. You multiply this by the hourly wage, so £8.91. The answer to this calculation is £18532,- per year. The average salary is then £1554.40 per month.
It is good to know that at most companies you usually receive your salary on a monthly basis.
Employee contributions
Of course you also have to make contributions on your gross salary. In England this is:
- Withholding tax
- National Health Insurance Fund
- Pension premiums
Your health insurance
England has two health care systems. There is the public National Health Service (NHS), but you can also take out private health insurance if you wish.
NHS
The NHS in England is funded by taxpayers' money and is therefore managed by the English state. In this way, every resident can use the health insurance. Some Britons also take out private insurance, because they do not have long waiting lists. However, private insurance is not mandatory.
Living in England
Do you also have the desire to move abroad and work in a great location in London, for example? Then, as you have read, you must prepare yourself well. Of course, you want to start off well. Another reason to prepare yourself well is that housing in the big cities of England can be quite expensive and you cannot easily find a cheap apartment. Also keep in mind that the prices you see for houses online do not include utilities.
House hunting
The housing market in England can actually be compared to the housing market in the Netherlands. Houses are becoming increasingly scarce and therefore houses are also becoming more expensive. First of all, you can always browse websites. Online you can easily find rental and purchase houses. It is also common in England that houses are shared because of the high prices. Would you also prefer to share a house with roommates and save on your monthly costs? Then you can look at a website like www.gumtree.co.uk.
Of course, you can always opt for an estate agent. Not only can they search for homes for you, but you can also view all the homes together with the estate agent.
A little tip
Maybe you would also like to live just outside a big city. It is a bit quieter there, but also the houses will be a lot cheaper than in the center. Traveling to work does not have to be a problem, because public transport in England is very well organized.
Finally..
As you have read, there are a few things you need to arrange before you can start working at your new job in England. Prepare yourself well for this so that you will not be faced with any surprises later. Companies often help their employees with a move, so it might be useful to ask your employer for more information about this.
Do you have any questions?
Do you have any questions regarding emigration to the United Kingdom? For example, would you like more information about your health insurance in the country or would you like to know how to buy a house there? Then we would like to refer you to the other articles on our website.
