UK work permit holders to get government funding for gap years

August 07 2009 by Mark Johnstone

Struggling to find work in UK?

The recruitment industry says that working abroad can significantly boost a CV in the eyes of an employer and now, the government is endorsing overseas working by funding gap years.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced that it will help graduates who are struggling to find work in the UK to travel overseas and work in voluntary positions for ten weeks.

The offer extends to 500 people under the age of 24 and will involve them travelling to destinations including Costa Rica and India to work for a voluntary organisation though Raleigh International.

Higher Education Minister, David Lammy, says that working abroad can help people to develop the “communication and leadership skills that are so highly valued in the workplace".

For those who cannot afford to volunteer abroad, working holiday visas offer a more affordable option to gap year students. These temporary work visas enable graduates and students to work in Australia or Canada for up to a year in temporary roles. This enables young people to travel around a country, gaining skills and experience while earning money to help them along the way.

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