Employment
Most important employment related information for BN(O) visa holders can be found in the Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Pack, produced by the UK government and available in English and Traditional Chinese.
Working in the UK guide also provides an overview of important information, such as:
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Right to work
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Types of employment
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Training, work experience and volunteering
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Rights at work
Hongkongers in Britain website has a section on Employment and working in the UK, with many useful tips and practical information in English and Traditional Chinese.
Employment Support
There are many services and organisations which provide help with finding jobs, including preparing CVs, practicing with job interviews and support with application forms.
Some services are provided by voluntary sector, others by statutory organisations. They might have different geographical remits (national, regional or local) and varied eligibility criteria, and are often time limited. There is also a small number of services tailored to support Hongkongers.
Each of 15 local authorities in Yorkshire and Humber have dedicated teams covering Employment and Skills, and help for businesses. Additionally, in West and South Yorkshire, combined authorities are also providing additional training and upskilling opportunities.
National Career Advice provide free tailored information, advice and guidance to help individuals to make decisions on learning, training and work. To speak to career adviser in your area:
Contact: 0800 100 900 or use National Career Advice's online chat
Prince's Trust offers free online programme to give young people aged 16-30 the chance to build employability skills and develop professional reflection skills.
In this programme, participants will:
- Learn about employability skills, get advice from Prince’s Trust staff on how to craft a CV and Work on Communications Skills to ensure they stand out in interviews.
- Discover how to build resilience, boost their confidence and take part in activities focusing on topics such as money management and building relationships.
Contact: YHOutreach@princes-trust.org.uk
Services tailored to support Hongkongers
The Growth Company's Jobs for Hongkongers supports people from Hong Kong find work and settle into life within England.
Programme overview
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8 weeks of support
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Digital or telephone support
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Dedicated advisor/support worker/case worker
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Tailored plan of support
Eligibility
To access Jobs for Hongkongers support you must be on the Hong Kong (BN(O) Scheme. Documentation will be required to support your eligibility.
If you are a referral organisation, please email Jobsforhongkongers@gcemployment.uk or call 07918 289 897
Regional and local training and employment support
South Yorkshire (Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield)
Careers Hubs – South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Employment and skills service | Sheffield City Council
West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield)
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Employment and Skills | Inclusive Growth Leeds
Leeds Employment Hub | Inclusive Growth Leeds
York and North Yorkshire
Rise2Thrive is a support programme for adults in North Yorkshire and York who are currently out of work and have barriers to engaging with employment and/or training or are in work but need support to thrive.
Individuals receive tailored 1-2-1 advice, mentoring and employability support, and have access to specific interventions designed to help break down barriers.
Contact: 01423 795300 or rise2thrive@betterconnect.org.uk
Language: English
Services tailored to support Hongkongers:
Ambitions Hongkongers – Sheffield
The project is delivered by Sharrow Community Forum and provides support with finding jobs to Hongkongers living in Sheffield. The project is on going until March 2025.
Contact: 07943794944 or kit@sharrowcf.org.uk
Language: Cantonese and English
Strive project – Leeds and Wakefield
The project is delivered by Strings of Life (Leeds Chinese Gospel Church) and provides support with English language, job seeking and mock interviews. The project is on-going until December 2024.
Contact: solstrivecp@gmai.com
Language: Cantonese and English
Comparing and converting your qualifications to UK equivalents
Some qualifications gained in Hong Kong are recognised in the UK, while others require conversion and/or registration with appropriate professional bodies.
To compare your overseas qualifications to the UK education system, you can apply for the Statement of Comparability through UK ENIC – the UK National Information Centre for the recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills. Here is a list of some professions and requirements:
Architects – The UK Architects Registration Board (ARB) and the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) signed a memorandum of understanding allowing for the mutual recognition of relevant architectural qualifications in the UK and Hong Kong.
Counsellors – to work in the UK as a counsellor, you need to apply to be a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. The process and requirements are explained on this bilingual factsheet for counsellors created by Hong Kong Welcome Hub in South East.
Electricians – to work in the UK as an electrician you need to be certified. If you are a Registered Electrical Worker in Hong Kong, you might be able to become a fully qualified electrician through Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA). The process and requirements are explained on this bilingual factsheet for electricians created by Hong Kong Welcome Hub in South East. You can also join one of the specific Competent Person Schemes, such as BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT, OFTEC, listed here.
Nurses – registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council is required to work in the UK as a nurse. The process and requirements are explained on this bilingual factsheet for nurses created by Hong Kong Welcome Hub in South East
Physiotherapists – registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) is required to work in the UK as a physiotherapist. The process and requirements are explained on this bilingual factsheet for physiotherapists created by Hong Kong Welcome Hub in South East
Social workers – registration with Social Care England is required to work in the UK as a social worker. The process and requirements are explained on this bilingual factsheet for social workers created by Hong Kong Welcome Hub in South East. However, you can also use your social care degree to work in other roles, without the need for registration, such as to work as a support worker, outreach worker or in community engagement.
Teaching – application to get a qualified teacher status is likely to be required to work as a teacher in school. The process and requirements are explained on this bilingual factsheet for teachers created by Hong Kong Welcome Hub in South East.
Useful links
Hong Kong Nursing Association UK provides information, pastoral care, and support for Hong Kong Nurses in the UK. They have produced an Information guide for Hong Kong Nurses about working in England
Contact: recruitment@hknauk.org
Language: Cantonese and English
Know your rights as an employee:
Online check tool – work rights
Calculate your holiday entitlement
Browse: Working, jobs and pensions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What if something goes wrong?
ACAS (Dispute resolution)
Support with setting up business
In Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale (Halifax), Kirklees (Huddersfield, Dewsbury), Wakefield, York and Harrogate, Selby and Craven (Skipton):
Ad:Venture is for people who are planning to start, or have started a new business with high growth potential, and have been trading for less than 3 years. The Ad:Venture registration form is here
In Sheffield:
Business Sheffield can help new and existing businesses access funding and expertise through a team of specialists.
Drop-in sessions on employment and business
Maternity rights and services in the UK - 8 March 2023
To celebrate the International Women’s Day, the session focused on maternity rights and services in the UK. We will cover the rights in the workplace during pregnancy and maternity leave, support available when pregnant and having a new born, maternity services and care in the UK, and help available when things go wrong.
Click here to view 'Maternity rights and services in the UK' presentation
Setting up a food business – 5 October 2022
This session explained what you need to set-up and run a food business, how the registration process works, and other useful information such as food hygiene, and health and safety. We will also be joined by Hongkongers sharing their experience of starting their own food business.
Click here to view 'Starting and registering a food business' presentation
Rights as an employee - 4 May 2022
This event covered employment rights in the UK, including different types of employment statuses, contracts, holiday pay and sick pay and redundancies.
Click the links to watch the session:
Employment support - 17 November 2021
This event provided an overview of organisations providing free help with finding jobs, creating CVs, practicing interview skills, writing cover letters transferring qualifications to the UK based and understating UK work culture.
Watch presentations from the event below:
Building Better Opportunities – This project helps adults aged 25 or older residing in Hull, East Riding, North Lincolnshire or North East Lincolnshire.
NIYA – Talent Network – This project supports displaced people into digital roles.
Recruitment in the NHS – Hong Kong Nursing Association covers whole of the UK and works with the NHS recruitment to get Hong Kong nurses into NHS.
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Last updated: 02/12/2024