MEDIA RELEASE

4 September 2003

UK to snap up Kiwi Social workers

Social Workers looking to gain overseas experience will be the target of a recruitment drive being launched this weekend by leading UK recruitment and traveller services company,1st Contact.

UK representatives will be visiting Auckland 3rd and 4th October to recruit up to 10 New Zealand social workers to work in the trendy North London Borough of Islington.

Social workers keen to travel to the UK could be looking at salaries of up to NZ$86,900 plus a relocation package of $6,000. Social workers earn between $25,000 and $50,000 in New Zealand.

"Social workers are in high demand in the UK and opportunities exist to make excellent money, gain good international experience and to travel at the same time," according to Joanne Hill, 1st Contact Recruitment Consultant.

1stContact believes recent changes to UK working holiday visas will see more Kiwis taking the opportunity to travel and gain work experience in the UK as part of a working holiday. Key changes include being able to work in your profession, being able work for the full length of the Working Holiday visa and an increase in the age limit for eligibility from 27 to 30 years of age.

"New Zealanders can now apply for professional jobs while on two year working visas to Britain - something they couldn't do until recently. This means they have no need to worry about losing valuable time out from their careers while they travel. "

Speculation that the number of Kiwi travellers to the UK is expected to double from 8000 to 16,000 a year in response to the changes which have been introduced to address Britain's shortage of skilled labour is not a concern.

"A recent survey by 1st Contact shows that most Kiwis intend to return home to live permanently after going on their Working Holiday in the United Kingdom," said Ms Hill.

83% of the 105 New Zealanders surveyed said they intended to return to New Zealand to live permanently after their time in the UK. 96% of those surveyed saw the easing of the Working Holidaymaker Scheme restrictions and extension of the age limit to 30 years as positive because it would see them return home better skilled in their profession.

In addition to the salary and relocation package, New Zealand social workers will receive other benefits offered by 1st Contact Recruitment, including an airport pick-up and transfer, assistance with setting up a UK bank account and telecom account as well as ongoing support from 1st Contact once in London.

ENDS

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