The services sector dominates the UK economy with banking, insurance and business services all key drivers of the country’s growth. Industries in decline include manufacturing, although it’s important to note that this sector still employs large numbers of workers and makes up a significant part of the UK’s output.

Growing industries include:

1. construction
2. creative
3. engineering
4. financial services
5. hospitality
6. IT
7. law
8. leisure
9. marketing and sales

The hospitality and retail industries often recruit all year round due to a high turnover of staff. The creative arts and design sector, although highly competitive, is often recruiting in London, while marketing and PR is thriving in cities such as Birmingham and Manchester.

In demand occupations exist in sectors such as:

1. arts and entertainment
2. engineering
3. healthcare
4. IT
5. teaching
6. agriculture for seasonal work

Get tips on how best to approach the job market and find a job.

Graduate schemes are available at many of the UK’s large and multinational companies in sectors such as:

1. banking
2. technology
3. engineering
4. retail

A list of companies offering schemes can be found in the Prospects website job sectors and Prospects graduate job search.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), you will have to apply directly. Research individual companies to find out what graduate positions and work experience is available at SMEs

For job listings in the UK, see:

1. Graduate job search – for the latest graduate schemes, placements and jobs.
2. Guardian Jobs – national news site advertising UK and international jobs.
3. Indeed – job site listing vacancies throughout the UK.
4. Telegraph Job Site – Search for a job and get help with your career.

The main languages taught in schools in the UK are French, Spanish and German and some schools are now employing Mandarin teachers. This leaves room for many of the other languages now prevalent in the UK.

If you are coming from outside the UK and possess skills in one of these languages, you may be able to find teaching work as a modern foreign language (MFL) teacher.

Due to a shortage of professionals in these subjects there is a high demand for talented individuals. If you have a university degree or English equivalent, and a good grasp of the English language, you may be entitled to bursary support in order to complete the required postgraduate study.

For more information on teaching languages in the UK, available bursaries and training options, go to Teach Modern Foreign Languages.

To get a foot in the door of an organisation, many students in the UK look for work experience. Work experience opportunities will vary in length, depending on the organisation. In some cases a placement will be as short-term as one day; others may last for several months and lead to a permanent position.

It’s important to remember that all work experience is valuable and many students are successful in securing a place for several months.

If you are attending a university or college, the international office can help you find and apply for work experience and internships.

Internships and work experience, can be both paid and unpaid. Often pay will be minimum (or London Living Wage), but there may be a full time offer of employment at the end of the internship

There are lots of voluntary roles in the UK that can help you to develop your English skills and allow you to give something back to a charitable organisation.

If you can afford to work unpaid in order to gain experience, taking on a voluntary placement will be worthwhile and can help boost your CV.

1. Do-it is the UK’s national volunteering database, listing opportunities from thousands of charities and social groups.
2. Vinspired has a range of opportunities for 14-25 year-olds. Search by category, project and organisation to find a suitable project.
3. Volunteering England is part of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
4. Volunteering Matters works in partnership with UK organisations to deliver programmes that enable people of all ages and backgrounds to put something back into the community.

You can find further volunteering projects that are happening locally in your community by checking local newspapers and notice boards. Make sure you thoroughly research all volunteering opportunities and always check the terms and conditions before committing yourself to a scheme.

If you are looking for work in the UK, you will need to speak a certain level of English. GOV.UK has details on language requirements and other specifications for people wishing to settle in the UK at GOV.UK – Settle in the UK.

The UK immigration system is currently undergoing changes so please find the most up to date information on the government website at GOV.UK

Visas and Immigration.

When you travel outside the UK, always make sure you have your most recent documents with you so that you can prove your visa status if you are stopped by immigration.  If you are on a partner visa and not travelling with them, make sure you can easily phone your partner to confirm your relationship.  Be particularly cautious about travelling if your visa is close to expiring.

In the UK the average working week is Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, although in an office you will have some choice about your working hours. Working hours should be set out in your contract of employment and unless you choose to, you shouldn’t have to work more than 48 hours a week.

Part-time and flexible work are also possible.

Adult workers are entitled to at least one day off a week, four weeks paid annual leave, sick pay, maternity and paternity leave. Employers are not required by law to allow days off on bank or public holidays, although many honour these dates.

In England and Wales there are eight bank/public holidays a year, in Scotland there are nine and in Northern Ireland there are ten.

In the UK if you are aged 16 or above you are entitled to receive the National Minimum Wage NMW

Income Tax is the tax you pay once you start earning a wage. Taxable income includes the money you earn from employment and any profits you make if you’re self employed. Most people get a personal allowance of tax-free income, which is usually around £11,000. The basic rate of Income Tax currently stands at 20%.

All parents have a choice in which school their child goes to, both at primary and secondary.

There are a variety of schools that you can choose from. Factors you will want to take into account when choosing a school are:

• Its OFSTED report – this is a report based on a government mandated review of schools

• Its academic results and where it is in the league tables
• Transport – how easy it is to get there and how much time it will take

All of these reports you can find online and are published by your Local Authority.

You should also attend an open day at the school. Most people say that the quality of the headteacher is everything so try and meet them.

Secondary schools teach the full curriculum but will have specialities. Some might be known for the Performing Arts, others for Science. You will want to look at what your child’s talents are and therefore which school you want to apply for.

Beware, there will be competition for places at the best schools and you may not get your first choice so make sure you have checked out the schools that look good and have put in a good application.

There are lots of resources to help you make the right choice, start here: https://www.gov.uk/schools-admissions/admissions-criteria

Most importantly, make sure you know the closing dates for application and that you have done all your research a long time before the closing dates

Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. In most Western countries, it is compulsory for children to receive primary education (though in many jurisdictions it is permissible for parents to provide it. If you wish to home school you will need to check the approvals needed with your Local Authority).
Primary education generally begins when children are four to seven years of age. The division between primary and secondary education is somewhat arbitrary, but it generally occurs at about twelve years of age (adolescence); some educational systems have separate middle schools for that period.

Secondary education , or secondary school ,  is a period of education which follows directly after primary education, and which may be followed by tertiary or “post-secondary” education. The purpose of a secondary education can be to prepare for either higher education or vocational training. At secondary education children will be required to take GCSE and A-Level exams. These exams are used for applications to universities and also for job applications, so it is important for children to do well in these exams. For GCSE grades are awarded between 9 (the highest) and 1 (the lowest). At A-level grades are between A*-F, with A* (the highest) and F (a fail).

Higher education is education provided by universities and other institutions that award academic degrees, such as university colleges, and liberal arts colleges.

Higher education includes both the teaching and the research activities of universities, and within the realm of teaching, it includes both the undergraduate level (sometimes referred to as tertiary education) and the graduate (or postgraduate) level (sometimes referred to as quaternary education). Higher education differs from other forms of post-secondary education such as vocational education. However, most professional education is included within higher education, and many postgraduate qualifications are strongly vocationally or professionally oriented, for example in disciplines such as law and medicine.

The costs for a state funded education in the United Kingdom are as follows:

• Primary: No Charge
• Secondary: No Charge
• Further (Secondary) Education in either a sixth form or college: No Charge if under 19 in that particular academic year or on a low income.
• Higher / Tertiary Education (University): A tuition fee per year (varies from £1,000 for vocational training to £9,200 for universities).

State funded schools are paid for from taxation.
Primary and Secondary education can also be charged for, if a fee-paying school is attended by the child in question. It’s called private school at primary and often, public school at secondary school. The most famous public schools charge about £30,000 per year. 

For private schools and universities it is possible to get bursaries or help with funding, look at their websites for more information on this. 

Work for Chopping and updating if you know if any of its out of date – not expecting you to do any research, of course, Just if you happen to know.