Help to get ready for the Big OE

With the number of New Zealanders wanting information about going on their big OE to Britain increasing since last year, the British High Commission is running seminars to help to get people ready to head off for a year or two.

The second round of seminars, which are organised by Yvette Adams, are due to start at the end of the month with the Auckland event being held in May at the Auckland Showgrounds.

"The number of people attending our countrywide open evenings (during the first round) is up 200 per cent on last year's figure to 1200 people across all centres," says Adams.

"The numbers show not just how many New Zealanders continue to head to Britain to live, work, travel or study, but also how much interest there is in getting useful and accurate information before they go."

Adams says the job market in Britain not quite as buoyant as it once was, so it is even more important to do some ground work before jumping on a plane.

"In the past, it was common for people to arrive in Britain and if they had good skills, good work experience and were motivated for getting work, they could be working within a couple of week," she says.

"Now, it's not quite so easy and it's essential that people plan ahead."

Her advice is to:

* Apply for visas as soon as possible - at least eight weeks before departure.

* Make contacts with potential employers and job agencies well in advance. Giving a date of arrival also helps.

"At our seminars people can get visa application forms and speak to representatives from the British High Commission as well as recruitment agencies," she says.

They can also chat to people who have already spent time living and working in Britain about their experiences, speak to travel agents about different routes and find out how much an air ticket will cost.

Adams says a key priority of the next round of OE evenings will be to secure more recruitment agencies working in a wider range of British industries.

The next Big OE evening in Auckland is on Thursday, May 2, Auckland Hall 2, mezzanine floor, Auckland Showgrounds, 217 Greenlane West (opposite Greenlane Hospital).

The evening will run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

* For further information about the event contact Yvette Adams, ph (04) 9242870, email bhcpress@xtra.co.nz

* Britain's immigration policy, in particular the working holiday visa, is under review and may be shortened from two years to one. Information about the review is available on the internet.

White Paper for Holiday Makers to the UK