Moving to England: Port of Grimsby

Posted by shipping UK on July 27, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

When shipping your household goods to England with IntlMOVE UK, your personal belongings might arrive at the Port of Grimsby. This container port is located on the south bank of the Humber Estuary. It is only 10 kilometers from the open sea. When your household goods arrive at Port of Grimsby, IntlMOVE UK will arrange for your items to be delivered to your new home as quickly as possible.

Privately owned cranes, forklifts and handling equipment are available to quickly unload container ships. There are also covered and open storage areas available if needed. The port is equipped with the necessary technology and equipment to handled ships carrying up to 6,000 tons of cargo. The container carrying your household goods can easily be transported. With direct road access and access to a quayside railhead, it is easy to deliver your household goods to your new home in the United Kingdom. The Port of Grimsby is located on 2.5 hectares, but there is room for expansion as the port’s use grows.

If you are shipping your car to England along with the rest of your household goods, the Port of Grimsby has all the technology to handle your car with care. If you are interested in roll-on/ roll-off services for shipping your car, talk to your IntlMOVE UK representative who is handling the international moving details for the rest of your household goods. It is the primary port in northern England to handle cars. In fact, over 400,000 vehicles go through the port annually for leading manufacturers. The port houses the northern distribution center for Volkswagen. In addition to Volkswagen cars, Audi, Seats, Skodas and Toyota vehicles are exported from the Port of Grimsby. There is so much vehicle traffic at this port that there are two dedicated berths on Alexandra Dock.

In addition to handling containers, the Port of Grimsby is important for the economy of the United Kingdom. It is the UK’s top fish market and handles 30,000 tons of fresh fish annually.  The port has been used as a fishing port as far back as the 12th century, so there is a long history to this trade. In addition to fish from the local fishing fleet, fish from Norway and Iceland and other UK ports are processed through the Port of Grimsby. Imports of frozen fish from different European countries arrive regularly.  More than 100 local companies rely on the fishing industry to sustain their business. The Findus Group, located in Grimsby, supplies fresh and frozen fish and employs about 2,500 people from those headquarters.

When you are moving from the USA to the UK, IntlMOVE UK will track your shipment and keep you up-to-date on the progress. When your household goods and other personal effects arrive at the Port of Grimsby or another port in the United Kingdom, IntlMOVE UK will handle all the normal customs clearance details if you have door-to-door service. From the port, your household goods will be delivered to your new home in the United Kingdom.

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Moving to Ireland and Shipping Electronics to Ireland

Posted by shipping UK on July 25, 2011 · 1 Comment 

Before moving to Ireland with IntlMOVE UK, determine which electronics and appliances you will be shipping to the UK. With all the details you have to plan for when moving overseas, don’t overlook the electrical and voltage differences of the United Kingdom.

The voltage in Ireland is 220-240 Volts, compared to the USA, which is 110-120 Volts.  The frequency, measured in Hertz is 50hz in Ireland, but 60hz in the USA. The outlets, or electrical sockets, are “Type G” British BS-1363, compared to NEMA 5-15 in the United States. The sockets will look different than in the USA and the rest of Europe, so you will not be able to plug your electronics directly into the outlets.

Shipping Electrical Items to Ireland

There are some electronics you may wish to leave behind, but there is no need to invest in all new electronics and appliances. Simply purchasing adapters, converters and transformers will allow you to use your US appliances in Ireland. Shipping your household goods and personal effects to the Ireland is easy with IntlMOVE UK. The international movers make it easy to get a free quote to pack, ship and deliver your personal items to your new house in Ireland.

Plug Adapters, Converters and

You need to check each appliance to find out whether or not they are compatible with a higher voltage. Each electrical appliance is equipped with an electrical plate, which displays the electrical compatibility. Don’t ever use electrical items with outlets that are not compatible with one another because this is very dangerous.

Multi-voltage appliances, such as some laptops, will need a plug adapter to work in Ireland. Adapters are really inexpensive, so you will definitely want to ship these types of items to Ireland. This is a really simple step you can take to use your electronics. However, don’t try to use appliances that are not multi-voltage with only an adapter. Adapters do not adjust the voltage. This can ruin the appliance and cause burnout almost immediately. This can also possibly cause damage to the electrical source. You can tell if the electrical items are multi-voltage by the electrical plate. If they can be used with only an adapter, they will state that they are 110/240V and 60/50hz compatible.

If you are using an electrical item, which is compatible with 60hz, it may work fine for a while in a 50hz UK outlet. However, the different in electrical frequency will ruin the item over time without a converter. Also, the frequency will run slower, which affects the performance of different items. For example, clocks will run slower and the time will not be correct. If you are using an alarm clock, you will wake up at the wrong time. This is not a good first impression for your new job overseas.

Hair dryers, curling irons and other small electronics can easily be used in Ireland with a plug adapter and voltage converter. Electronics used in the United States, which are 110-120 Volts, you will need a plug adapter and step down transformer.

Power converters step down voltage from 240 V to 120 V, allowing you to use your electrical household goods in Ireland. These converters do not alter the frequency, or hertz, and should not be used continuously. Only use these between one and two hours at a time.

Power transformers can be used with electrical equipment that does not use a mechanical motor. You need to use transformers for items that are powered with chips or circuits. The transformers can be used for more continuous use, which is different than converters. They can be expensive, but are perfect for use items that are not multi-voltage electronics, such as a DVD player or television. Again, these items only change voltage and not frequency.

When you are ready to move to Ireland to start your new life overseas, contact IntlMOVE UK to ship your household goods and electronics to Ireland.

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Moving to Wales – The Job Market and Cost of Living

Posted by shipping UK on July 21, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Moving to Wales with IntlMOVE UK will provide you and your family a great standard of living. It is a safe place to live with some of the lowest crime rates in the United Kingdom and the cost of living is reasonable.

Cost of Living in Wales

Cardiff offers all the conveniences of city living, but at a lower cost than other major cities in the UK. The British Tourist Authority regularly recognizes Cardiff as being the cheapest capital city when being compared to 16 capital cities around the world. Property prices are less than in other major British cities as are taxes and general expenses. Food, entertainment, travel and shopping were all taken into consideration.

The property prices in Cardiff, not surprisingly, are lower than in London. Average property prices are more than 50 percent less expensive than England’s capital city and 10 percent less than the average prices in the UK.

In addition to a lower cost of living, wages in Cardiff are generally higher than the average salary in Wales. Almost 90 percent of Welsh residents enjoy a high standard of living.

Finding a Job in Wales

Once you have decided that moving to Wales is the right move for you and your family, you will need to start looking for a job. Wales is a desirable place to live, so it can be difficult to secure a work visa, but definitely not impossible. You want to stand out among the other job seekers to prove that you are the right person for the job.

Research the different regions in Wales to determine where you would like to live. Cardiff, Newport, Wrexham and Swansea are some of the largest cities in Wales. There are corporate businesses, financial institutions and other managerial jobs in these cities. If your career is focused around agriculture and tourism, search for jobs in Pembrokeshire and North Wales.

Use online resources and job boards to help you find available positions. You can also read through expat websites to get tips and tricks on landing jobs as an expat. Spend less time on the Internet and set out to meet people face-to-face and search for jobs through newspapers. Many managerial roles are not always advertised, so network with your contacts in Wales to discover open jobs. Research companies you want to work for and regularly keep in contact with them to keep abreast of any positions that become available.

Contact local and international recruitment agencies to assist you with your job search. Recruiters are privy to knowledge of the job market that is not available to the general public. They know the companies that are recruiting and often have relationships with hiring managers. A good recruiter could be a valuable ally during your job search.

In Wales, 30 percent of people are employed in health, education and public administration, followed by 23 percent of people working in retail, wholesale, hotels and restaurants. Finance and other business activities make up 14 percent of Welsh employees and 13 percent are in production. The remaining Welsh workforce works in construction and other industries.

When you are moving to Wales, get a free online quote from IntlMOVE UK.

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Moving to Scotland and Finding a Job

Posted by shipping UK on July 6, 2011 · 2 Comments 

Moving to Scotland with IntlMOVE UK will allow you to experience a rich cultural experience in a beautiful country. Moving overseas is much different from a vacation because you have to work to make ends meet.

Jobs that are available to expats tend to be jobs that require special skills, which cannot be filled by citizens of the United Kingdom. You will likely need a higher level of education and an expertise in your line of work. To help you get started, the National Academic Recognition Information Center for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC) can help you determine if your qualifications and skills are needed in Scotland. The paid service compares international and UK academic qualifications.

Four out of every five employees work in the service industry but there are other jobs available in Scotland. Most of the future job growth is expected to be in health, education and social work. The number of full time, permanent positions available is rising after Scotland, like the rest of the world, was affected by the downturn of the economy. Recently, the numbers of job vacancies were up and starting pay is steadily increasing. The highest number of vacancies was in IT positions, which is helpful for IT experts moving overseas. This is good news for people moving to Scotland and looking for a job.

Work Visas in Scotland
To secure employment when moving to Scotland, you will need to secure a visa to work. IntlMOVE UK has put together some basic information, but you need to check with your embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information.

A Tier 1 visa is available in different categories. A visa is available for people who have completed their studies in the United Kingdom. Work visas are also available to people running a business in the UK or to people investing in British businesses. People who are exceptional leaders in science or arts can apply for a Tier 1 visa.

A Tier 2 visa is available to expats who are sponsored by a British employer. Employers need a license from the United Kingdom Border Agency to get a Tier 2 visa for their employees. These types of visas are available for skilled workers, who are taking jobs that UK citizens cannot fill. They are also available for multi-national employers that are transferring employees to a British branch. Sport stars and ministers of religion are also eligible for a Tier 2 visa.

Tier 5 visas are temporary visas, which can be issued to a UK employer. These visas are issued to employees for a limited period of time. They can be offered for creative or sporting purposes. The visas can also be issued to charity workers, religious workers, employees subject to an international agreement or to employees for a government authorized exchange. A license is also required from the UK Border Exchange Agency. A Tier 5 youth mobility scheme visa is available for peopled aged between 18 and 30. However, this visa is only available to citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco and New Zealand.

When you land a job and are moving to Scotland, contact IntlMOVE UK to ship your household goods from the U.S. to the UK.

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