Employment
Some information for BN(O) visa holders on employment can be found in the Hong Kong BNO Welcome Pack.
Employment Support
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
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
Comparing and converting your qualifications to UK equivalents
To compare your overseas qualifications to the UK education system, qualifications and framework levels, you can apply for the Statement of Comparability. This can be done through UK ENIC – the UK National Information Centre for the recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills.
If you would like to convert your qualifications from Hong Kong to UK equivalents, have a look at the factsheets in English and Traditional Chinese created by South East Strategic Partnership for Migration covering the following professions: nurses, teachers, social workers, physiotherapists, councillors and electricians
Useful links
NHS recruitment guide for nurses:
NHS Hong Kong BN(O)s and international recruitment
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?
HKSS - Hong Kong Settlement Scheme - Kirklees Citizens Advice & Law Centre (kcalc.org.uk)
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: 18/06/2023