Welcome to the United Kingdom. This is your guide to starting work in the UK. The following page has useful hints, tips and guidance to living and working in the UK.
All below numbers are free of charge to call:
In emergency only situations, you can call 999 from your phone to summon the police, ambulance or fire brigade service
If you are in need of medical advice or attention but it is not a direct emergency, then you can dial NHS 111 from your phone and they can provide advice and guidance. NHS 111 can also offer guidance for dentistry too
119 can provide you with up to date information on Coronavirus (Covid-19), vaccinations and what to do if you think that you may have Covid symptoms
If you need to find out more about Covid-19 and Kew Green's Policies including Vaccinations and how to get them, please click here.
If you need to report a crime that has happened (but is not currently happening) and that is not an emergency, like a theft for example, then you can call 101 from your phone to bring the information to the attention of the local police
National Insurance contributions are a tax on earnings paid by employees and employers. They can help to build your entitlement to certain benefits depending whether you are employed or self-employed, such as the State Pension and Maternity Allowance. This is a must have for your employment. If you have not yet registered for your National Insurance Number you can do that by clicking here.
If you are eligible and provided you meet all the qualifying criteria, you will be auto-enrolled into a pension scheme provided you are not already an active member of a KGH Pension Scheme. Please refer to your contract of employment for further information.
Banks are a must have for your employment in order for us to pay you. There are different types of banks available in the UK. There are 'High Street Banks' or 'Online' Banks.
Some examples of 'High Street' banks and the websites linked to them can be found below:
Some examples of 'Online' banks and the websites linked to them can be found below:
If you wish to send letter or parcels home then you will need to find your local post office. To find your local post office and for more information on what the Post Office offer please click here.
Some Post Office's also offer Foreign Currency Exchange. Alternatively, you can exchange your currency in most supermarkets or in some Travel Agents.
There are various supermarkets where you can purchase groceries and essential living supplies. These vary on price, from more budget stores to more premium branded stores.
Giving the ongoing increase of groceries, food and essential shopping, weekly shops can vary from £40-60 per person.
As well as supermarkets we have local stores or convenience stores.
There are lots of websites where you can find accommodation to either rent or buy. Some rentals come as a house share option too. Listed below are some websites:
Once you find accommodation, you will be responsible for many household bills. Below you can find a list of what bills you will have to pay, average costs and links to websites to set them up (where applicable):
Electricity and Gas - around £100-£150 per month - example company is EON
Water - around £40-60 per month - water company will depend on your location
Council Tax - this varies based on property house and size and valuation - prices depend on location and local council
TV License - around £20 per month - website here
There are various types of phone options which you can have. Examples are Pay As You Go, SIM Only and Contracts.
SIM only contracts as an example vary on cost - it can be anything from as low as £6 per month up to £30 per month.
Examples of providers and their websites are:
There are different internet providers in the UK which offer different packages, some include TV and Landline, others are internet only. It is good to shop around to get the best deal or the most appropriate to what you are looking for. Cost wise varies depending on plan and can be up to £55 per month.
Examples of providers and their websites are:
There are many different types of insurances you may want to consider opting into when living in the UK. To get the best possible deals it is highly recommended that you shop around and look at comparison sites. Some examples of these sites are:
If you purchase a home in the UK, as part of the mortgage terms you will need to get Building, Homes and Contents Insurance to protect both your property and your belongings.
If you are renting a property, it is recommended that you get contents insurance to protect your belongings.
If you plan to go abroad on holiday it is recommended that you get travel insurance to cover for loss of property, flight cancellation, hotel disruptions, illness etc.
Other types of insurances you may wish to consider if necessary:
Life Insurance
Pet Insurance
Jewellery Insurance
Wedding Insurance
If you wish to purchase a car and drive in the UK on a foreign driving license you can find more information here.
There are important factors that you do need to take into account when driving. Your must:
The UK has a great amount of colleges or universities where you have the opportunity to apply to learn additional courses or study to achieve academic degrees. You can find more information here.
There are various places of worship throughout the UK. You can find your local places of worship by searching online in your location.
If you find yourself in a position where you need further guidance or support in the UK and you cannot get this from your line manager then we have Citizens Advice. You can find out more about Citizens Advice and the support they offer by clicking here.