expat network
keep your uk mobile number

Keeping Your UK Mobile Number While Abroad

Roaming and international call charges can be avoided by expats using a new service which allows them to keep their UK mobile number. Swytch, the UK-based start-up providing multiple mobile numbers on an existing mobile phone, has said that people in 130 countries around the world now have UK mobile numbers thanks to their app. Swytch...

USA Now More Oil Reserves Than Saudi Arabia

A new independent estimate of world oil reserves has been released by Rystad Energy, showing that the US now holds more recoverable oil reserves than both Saudi Arabia and Russia. For the US, more than 50% of remaining oil reserves is unconventional shale oil. Texas alone holds more than 60 billion barrels of shale oil,...

Contractors: Beware New Managed Service Company Rules

Contractors in the UK, or using UK structures while abroad, should consider how they might be adversely affected by new laws on managed service company providers. The UK taxman previously found it extremely difficult to enforce the old IR35 rules on personal service companies being used by contractors, say experts at Capital Consulting. So MSC...

Oil And Gas Workers Should Retrain?

A new online tool is designed to help skilled workers in the oil and gas sectors find job opportunities in the wider UK engineering sector, supported by the pipeline of large energy and infrastructure projects, according to the UK government. The existing Talent Retention Solution scheme, which is used by over 1,000 companies in the...

Saudi Arabia: The Hottest Jobs

From Tim Skelton: Looking at projects in Saudi Arabia - living and working in the famously conservative nation is not always straightforward.

Heading For A Foreign City? It May Be Expensive

Hong Kong tops the list of most expensive cities for expatriates, pushing Luanda, Angola to second position. Zurich and Singapore remain in third and fourth positions, respectively, whereas Tokyo is in fifth, up six places from last year. Kinshasa, ranked sixth, appears for the first time in the top 10, moving up from thirteenth place....

Britons in the EU

Brexit: The Bank Of England View

The Bank of England has quickly responded to financial questions raised by the UK’s referendum result on leaving the EU, in a handy Q&A format. What do any financial market movements after the vote mean? The economy will need to adjust to whatever new trading relationships are put in place in the future. These decisions...

what recruiters look for

What Recruiters Look For

While there is no sure-fire way to land the job of your dreams, there are steps you can take to ensure you stand out from the crowd and give yourself the best chance possible.

More IT Specialists Opt For Self-Employment

The number of information technology specialists moving into self-employment has increased by 48% in five years, up from 143,000 211,000. According to research by professional services firm Procorre, the number of contractors in IT is growing at one of the fastest rates of any sector. The increase is being driven by rapidly growing business investment...

Living and Working in Qatar

For those of you contemplating contracts in the Middle East here is a brief introduction to what you can expect if you are going to work in Qatar Like many other Gulf countries, Qatar is a combination of an ancient past and 21st century technology and architecture. It is a country in transition that has retained...

Living And Working In Canada

Here’s a brief introduction to what you can expect if you are going to work in Canada A land of geographic differences and cultural diversity, Canada has a high standard of living with a friendly and sociable population. Within its vast borders, spanning six time zones, there is a beautiful and varied landscape that includes...

Three Quarters of Contractors Want to Work Abroad

Most contractors are attracted by the possibility of the higher take home pay – often due to lower taxes – and the prospects of a better work-life balance by working abroad Over three quarters (77%) of all contractors would like to work abroad, reveals a survey by professional services company Procorre. However, many contractors can...