CHAPTER 9

Different Types of Work

Part 1: Sectors

Organisations in the UK fall into one of three sectors. These are generally known as the private sector, the public sector, and the third sector.

Explanations of the differences between them are listed below.

  • Owned by:
    Individuals or companies (not government)

    Aim:
    To be profitable and achieve business aims

    Examples:
    Tesco, McDonalds, Amazon

  • Owned by:
    Government

    Aim:
    To provide services for the general public

    Examples:
    NHS, local councils, Network Rail

  • Owned by:
    Individuals or organisations (not government)

    Aim:
    To improve society

    Examples:
    Oxfam, Red Cross, World Jewish Relief

What fields of work exist in the UK?

There are hundreds of different fields of work in the UK. Some of the most common ones are:

  • Agriculture

  • Catering and hospitality

  • Charity

  • Construction

  • Education

  • Engineering

  • Finance

  • Engineering

  • Finance

  • Hair and beauty

  • Health care

  • IT

  • Manufacturing

  • Office administration

  • Retail

  • Transport

Part 2: Employment status

What are the different types of work in the UK?

In the UK, there are several types of work. When you receive a job offer, you will be given a contract, which will include your employment status. Before you agree to sign a contract, always speak to your Employment Adviser. They can help you check through your contract to make sure everything is in order.

There are three main types of employment status that you can have.

    • Someone who has agreed a contract with an employer

    • This is usually a signed contract, but it can be verbal (not written down)

    • Employees usually have a permanent (i.e. open-ended) contract

    • The employee must do the work themselves: they cannot ask anyone else to do it

    • The employer must provide the work they promised, and the employee must do the work

    • The employer has control over how the employee does the work

    • Employers must pay tax and National Insurance contributions on behalf of the employee

    • Employees have full statutory rights

    • This status is similar to an employee’s, but it includes a wider range of possible contracts

    • A worker is anyone who works for an employer

    • Workers usually have temporary (i.e. fixed-term) contracts

    • Examples of workers can include agency workers, zero-hours workers, and some freelancers

    • Self-employed people do not have a contract with an employer

    • They have opened their own company and can choose to provide services or products as and when they want

    • Self-employed people do not have the same rights as employees or workers

Part 3: Volunteering, work experience, and internships

In the UK, it is very common for people at the beginning of their career to do unpaid work.

What is volunteering?

When you become a volunteer, it means you work for an organisation without being paid. There are many different volunteering opportunities across thousands of different organisations in the UK.

Why would I work for free?

Volunteering has many great benefits, though it also has some drawbacks.

Pros

  • Gain new skills and experience

  • Build confidence

  • Find mentors and build a professional network

  • Become part of the community

  • Improve English skills

  • Add new skills and experience to CV

  • Learn to work as part of a team

  • Make a positive impact on society

  • Provide a potential route into paid employment

  • Make friends

  • Entitled to claim expenses for travel and lunch

Cons

  • You don’t get paid for your time

  • Important not to get “stuck” in volunteering; remember that it is a step towards paid employment

  • Work experience is a short-term opportunity to work at an organisation. It is usually unpaid. You may be able to “shadow” an experienced professional who can answer any questions you have and will help give you a taste of the job.

  • Some companies run work experience programmes which you can apply for through their website. You can also email companies directly, attaching your CV and a short cover letter explaining why you would like to gain experience with them and what you can offer.

  • An internship is a fixed-term work placement that lasts longer than work experience. It gives you a more in-depth understanding of the industry and the responsibilities of working at the company. Internships can be paid or unpaid, and they are available in lots of different industries. If you impress your manager during an internship, it might lead to a permanent job with the company.

  • Most internships are advertised on company or job-search websites. You can also improve your chances of finding an internship by writing directly to companies to ask whether they have any opportunities available. You will need to include a tailored CV and cover letter explaining why you are interested in that company.

Part 4: Paid work

At some point in the future, you will be hoping to find paid work in the UK. The UK labour market is varied

Different types of contracts

    • Full-time employment is the most common type of employment in the UK

    • It usually covers between 35 and 40 hours per week

    • Most companies’ working hours are from 9am to 5pm, but some will start or finish earlier or later

    • Usually, a permanent position comes with either a salary paid every month or hourly wages

    • Part-time employment contracts have fewer hours than a full-time employment contract

    • They usually cover between 8 and 30 hours per week

    • Usually, a permanent position comes with either a salary paid every month or hourly wages

    • Part-time employment contracts are useful for people who have other commitments, such as studies or childcare

    • You can often still receive benefits if you are working part-time

    • A permanent contract does not end until the employer or the employee decides to end it

    • Permanent contracts can be part-time or full-time

    • Fixed term or temporary employment contracts mean that you will work for a certain number of weeks or months, then the contract will end

    • Fixed term contracts can be part-time or full-time

    • Fixed term and temporary employees receive the same treatment as people on permanent contracts; however, the number of holidays you get will depend on the length of the contract

    • If you impress your employer, the contract could be extended or you could be offered a permanent position

  • A zero hours contract is also known as a “casual contract” or as “gig economy” work. With this type of contract, the employer does not have to offer the worker any work. When work is offered, the worker can choose whether they would like to do the work or not. We do not recommend zero hours contracts, as they can be a stressful and unstable way of working.

    • Zero hours contracts provide a level of flexibility (i.e. you can choose your working hours around studies or childcare)

      You can work for other companies at the same time

    • They can provide you with “a foot in the door”, allowing you to get your first job in the UK and start making valuable networks and building UK experience on your CV

    • There can be a lack of transparency around working hours, rotas, and shifts, and you can sometimes be asked to work at very short notice

    • It can be easier for employers to exploit workers

    • There may sometimes be no work available, which can mean no income

    • You might have your contract terminated if you regularly turn down work

    • It can be difficult to know your rights

    • Zero hours jobs often have lower income

    • Freelancers are usually self-employed and take on pieces of work offered by different companies

    • If you are self-employed, you need to look after your taxes and National Insurance contributions

    • Freelance contracts will differ depending on the business and contract offered

    • The freelancer may receive a contract with a specific start and end date, or they may be contracted to work until a project is complete

    • Freelancers don’t get the same rights and benefits as permanent employees

    • An apprenticeship is a position that combines work and study. This allows you to earn money while working towards a qualification

    • They can be a good pathway to skilled jobs and careers

    • There are hundreds of different apprenticeships across different industries, including business, construction, and IT

    • There are four levels of apprenticeship: intermediate, advanced, higher, and degree

    • Apprenticeship programmes include training in the workplace with an employer and doing a qualification with a training provider

    • Apprenticeships can last for between one and six years

    • They are usually full-time, fixed-term contracts

Employment/Recruitment Agencies

  • An employment or recruitment agency is a company that is hired by other businesses to help them find suitable candidates for job vacancies.

    Before you sign up to an employment agency, they will interview you to find out more about your experience, skills, and interests. They will then help you find a suitable job. Some agencies specialise in specific fields such as IT, administrative work, or construction.

    Most agencies allow you to sign up with them for free but check first to avoid paying a fee.

  • PROs

    • They can save you time and effort

    • You can gain free advice and benefit from their expertise in the field you would like to work in

    • You gain access to jobs that may not be advertised publicly

    • They can give you useful interview feedback if you are not successful

    • They can keep your CV and details on their system for future opportunities

    CONS

    • They will not always have jobs that suit your skills and experience

    • It can be easy to become dependent on them to find you a job

    • They might ask you to consider jobs that do not suit your background or ambitions

Informal Work

  • Informal work is not formally registered or declared to the government. An example of this could be doing a job for a friend and being paid in cash.

    Some informal work is legal, but it can leave you open to exploitation as your employer does not usually provide you with a contract and so they are not required to provide you with statutory rights.

    If you get an informal job and you do not declare your earnings to JCP and to the government, you are breaking the law. You could have your benefits taken away and be prosecuted. If you are unsure about the status of any work you are doing, speak to your Employment Adviser.

  • Informal jobs can be tempting if you feel under pressure to start working immediately, but we would generally advise against going into informal work:

    • Informal jobs tend to pay very low wages

    • Employers may not pay minimum wage or offer other benefits, such as paid holidays or sick pay

    • They may not provide safe working conditions

    • You might not get job security

    • It can be easy to get stuck in informal work without considering long-term plans for career growth

    • You might be exploited by employers, especially if you do not speak fluent English

    • You will usually be responsible for paying your own taxes; if you do not, you could be fined or prosecuted

Working from Home

  • Many jobs offer the flexibility to work from home some or all of the time. This usually means working on a computer at home instead of going into the workplace. The advantages and disadvantages of working from home are listed below, along with some tips for making the most of it.

    • Not having to travel into work saves time and money.

    • It can be easier to combine work with other commitments such as childcare.

    • You might have fewer distractions and feel able to get more done.

    • Working from home gives you more flexible working hours.

    • It can be difficult to motivate yourself to get work done.

    • It can be distracting if you have family or friends around when you’re trying to work.

    • Working from home can lead to feelings of isolation and lack of support.

    • Set your working hours and stick to them. Decide when you will start and stop work, and draw a line between your working time and your personal time.

    • If you can, find a space for working and nothing else. This can help set a boundary between your workspace and home space.

    • Set up “face-to-face” meetings on Zoom or Skype. Human contact can help you feel less isolated.

Vahid’s Story

Vahid arrived in Coventry in 2014. He and his family had fled Syria after their home in Damascus was destroyed. In the UK, Vahid tried to find employment, but without qualifications he was getting nowhere. Then he joined STEP. We helped him improve his CV and interview skills and secure a trainee opportunity at Timpson.

There, Vahid went from strength to strength. Initially given a 16-week trial, he was soon offered a full-time position and, within nine months, he was made manager. Vahid has since been promoted again. He is now Mobile Manager and looks after a team of branch managers in the Midlands. He travels widely and enjoys helping other managers to excel. Vahid plans to stay at Timpson and work his way up the ladder.

He tells us, “I’ve been with them for over three years; they’re a really good company to work for.”

Glossary

contract
an agreement between employer and employee

DBS
a criminal record check

drawback
a disadvantage

employee
someone who is paid to work for an employer

employer
a person or organisation that pays someone to work for them

experienced
to be skilled and knowledgeable in something you have done for a long time

More information

Read “ACAS checking your employment status”
Read “Do IT volunteering”
Read “Neighbourly volunteering”
Read “Reach volunteering”

exploit
to take advantage of someone

minimum wage
the minimum amount you must be paid in a role, required by law

National Insurance
a type of tax you pay the government

organisation
a group of people who work towards the same goal

private sector
organisations managed by private individuals or enterprises

Read “NCVO find a volunteering centre”
Search “Gov guidance covid volunteering”adecco.co.uk
Read “Adecco” or “Hays Agency”

professional
a person who has a job that needs skill, education, or training

public sector
organisations that are funded by the government to provide services for the community

statutory
required by law

third sector
organisations that support people who need help but that are not funded by government

working conditions
the environment you work in

Find out more