The United Kingdom is an island country in Western Europe with a rich cultural heritage and magnificent landscapes. Citizens enjoy a good quality of life in the United Kingdom and a world-class infrastructure facility. It includes public transportation and the National Health Service as well.

Working and living in the United Kingdom

• The United Kingdom is one of the world’s top economies. It has plenty of offers for the ones seeking employment opportunities and a high standard of living. The cost of living in the United Kingdom is high.
• The estimated cost of living in the UK is around $ 3,135, but the quality of life is considered excellent there. There are various employment opportunities available for people to enroll themselves in and build a secure future.
• Living in the UK provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in a rich and multicultural society. The country's vibrant cities like London, Edinburgh, and Manchester offer a blend of cultural diversity.
• The UK has a well established social welfare system that provides various benefits and services to residents. Access to public healthcare through the National Health Service (NHS) and social security benefits are among the advantages of living in the UK.
• Workers from the UK benefit from the laws and regulations that protect employee rights like fair wages, paid holidays, and parental leaves. This ensures a healthy work-life balance.

Empowering Pay Scales in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has a national living wage amount offered to individuals for their work.  The amount is usually reviewed annually. That amount is currently set at £8.91 per hour for workers above 23 years of age. The workers in the United Kingdom are paid higher than the minimum wage amount in other countries. Moreover, the country has strong Labour Protection Laws for the workers to ensure a safe working environment for them.

Types of UK Visas and Work Permits for International Workers

International workers who are planning to work in the United Kingdom will need to apply for a visa.  A visa is granted for a certain time period for a specific purpose to international visitors.

• Skilled Worker Visa: It is known as the most popular type of visa in the country. The Skilled Worker Visa allows an international visitor to live and work for an approved company in the United Kingdom. The person can apply for a Skilled Worker Visa after he has got a confirmation from the country regarding the job. The visa comes with a validity period of five years.
• Standard Visitor Visa: Those wishing to visit the beautiful country of the United Kingdom should apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. It has a validity of six months. It can be applied for holidays, long business trips, a short study course, etc.
• Innovator Founder Visa: For the ones seeking to set up their own business in the country must apply for an Innovator Founder Visa. A person can stay in the country for about three years with this visa.

Work visa needs to be applied by people from outside the United Kingdom to start their job. Through a basic points-based system, the visas are awarded to the employees. The system is quite complex and difficult to decipher. The expats with desirable skills will easily get their visas approved.

For instance, working professionals like doctors, nurses and other officers rarely find getting a visa in the United Kingdom difficult. Before applying, a person must have a sponsorship certificate confirming his or her job in the country. The language skills and qualifications of the person will also be evaluated in the process.

Understanding the UK Healthcare System

• The healthcare system of the United Kingdom varies in its four countries. It means the services are different for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The healthcare services are publicly funded and include universal coverage.
• The services are accessible to everyone at zero cost. Prescriptions, eye care and dental care, are not covered under the Universal Healthcare System of the United Kingdom.
• The United Kingdom has mandated that prescriptions cost under $11.50, no matter what medication. This has been done to keep things reasonable for the ones who need medication but cannot afford it.
• It is also important to know that some employees are also offered healthcare insurance as a part of their compensation package in their job. But, every employee in the United Kingdom does not enjoy this offer.  It completely depends on the company someone is working for.

It will also be beneficial for the employee if he or she makes sure that there is a healthcare insurance facility on the job offered.

Job Requirements in the United Kingdom

• The leading sectors of the economy, like service, energy, medical, and other production sectors, offer a variety of employment opportunities for the people.
• Service Industries are the largest employers in the United Kingdom. Financial services such as insurance and banking account for more than one million jobs and contribute highly to the country’s GDP, making it the fifth largest economy in the world.
• The country is also famous for its manufacturing industries. It was referred to as the “workshop of the world” during the Industrial Revolution. The United Kingdom has a strong research development and a manufacturing base in some key industries like pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, and many more.
• Another important factor that aids employment opportunities in the United Kingdom is its production of coal, gas and oil. The country's energy sector is one of the largest sectors to employ employers. Major developments in renewable gas and energy production in the country are seen in its energy sector.