Welcome to UK Buddy – Your Trusted Guide to Living, Studying, and Working in the UK

  ✅ 10 Free Courses to Boost Your CV in the UK (2025 Edition) Label/Tag: Free Courses, Career Development, Job Skills, Online Learning Description: Explore 10 free, high-quality online courses that will improve your CV and job readiness in the UK. Perfect for students, job seekers, and carers looking to upskill or gain certifications. 🎯 10 Free Courses to Boost Your CV in the UK (2025 Edition) Whether you're a student, carer, job seeker, or new migrant in the UK, free training can give your CV the edge it needs. The best part? Many trusted platforms offer courses with free certificates . Here are 10 top picks for 2025: 1. Care Certificate – Introduction to Care Platform: Skills for Health via NHS Learning Hub Why take it? This is a must-have for care assistants and support workers. It covers safeguarding, infection control, and communication. 2. Digital Skills for Work and Life Platform: FutureLearn (by Accenture) Why take it? Learn the bas...

📘 UK Self-Sponsorship Visa Guide (2025) Already in the UK on a student, graduate, or dependent visa? You may not need a job offer to stay long-term. This guide explains how you can switch your visa by starting a business and sponsoring yourself legally under UK immigration rules. ✅ What’s Inside: Eligibility requirements for self-sponsorship Switching routes: Innovator Founder vs Skilled Worker via your own company Step-by-step switching process Documents checklist Estimated costs and timelines Official UK government links This guide is perfect for: 🎓 International students 🧑‍💼 Graduate visa holders 👨‍👩‍👧 Dependants looking to build a business 📥 Download the PDF Guide 📄 Download UK Self-Sponsorship Guide (PDF) 🙋 Need Personal Support? If you need help understanding your eligibility, or you're unsure how to create a business plan or register your UK company, book a free consultation with UK Buddy . 🔗 Useful ...

 :    Looking to save money on food shopping in the UK? Whether you're a student, migrant, or young family trying to budget better, finding affordable grocery stores is key. This 2025 guide lists the top 10 cheapest places to buy groceries — with real tips on what to buy, where, and how to make your money go further. --- 🔟 1. Aldi – Best for Weekly Essentials Aldi consistently ranks as the UK's cheapest supermarket. Their own-brand products often match or beat top brands for quality and price. Best buys: Fresh produce, dairy, bakery items, frozen food Tip: Visit early in the day for the best “Super 6” fruit & veg deals. --- 9. Lidl – Budget-Friendly and Expanding Fast Lidl rivals Aldi in affordability and selection. Their "Middle of Lidl" specials include surprise discounts on non-food items. Best buys: Meats, cereal, snacks, and weekly deals Tip: Use the Lidl Plus app for extra in-store coupons. --- 8. Asda – Great for Families With large stores and frequent pro...

🎓 Top 5 UK Cities for International Students in 2025: Where to Study, Work, and Thrive Moving to the UK to study is a life-changing decision — but where you choose to live matters just as much as the course you choose. The right city can offer better job opportunities, a vibrant student life, affordable living, and supportive communities. Here are the Top 5 UK cities international students love in 2025, based on cost, career potential, safety, and community support. --- 🏙 1. London Pros: Home to world-class universities (UCL, Imperial, LSE) Incredible cultural diversity — over 300 languages spoken! Excellent part-time job opportunities and networking Challenges: High cost of living (average rent: £800–£1,300/month) Competitive job market Top Tip: Use the city’s vast transport network and free student events to your advantage. --- 🏙 2. Manchester Pros: Affordable rent and vibrant nightlife Major student city with institutions like University of Manchester and MMU Great for tech, heal...

Top 10 UK Job Sites for Migrants and International Students (2025 Edition) Looking for a job in the UK as a migrant or international student can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re not sure where to begin. The good news? Several trusted job sites are tailored for people like you. These platforms regularly feature roles that welcome international applicants and even offer visa sponsorship. Here’s a list of the top 10 job websites that can help you land your next role in the UK in 2025: 🧭 1. To Indeed UK One of the largest job platforms in the UK, Indeed offers roles across every sector — including healthcare, warehouse, customer service, and more. 💼 2. CV-Library Another major platform with roles for care workers, cleaners, drivers, and other in-demand jobs. 📋 3. Totaljobs Great for filtering job searches by visa sponsorship, location, and contract type. 🏥 4. NHS Jobs All official healthcare and support roles across NHS Trusts are posted here. 🧑‍💻 5. Reed.co.uk Helpful for ...

  > 💸 Are you a student in the UK? Don’t miss our post on Top 10 Scholarships for International Students in the UK (2025 Guide) — it can help reduce your financial pressure while you build income stream Are you tired of unpredictable freelance work? Wondering how to earn stable, monthly income without relying on one-off clients? It’s time to think smarter—not harder. And yes, ChatGPT can help you make it happen. Whether you’re a freelancer, remote worker, student side-hustler, or creative in the UK, you’ve likely faced the pressure of inconsistent earnings. From council tax to skyrocketing rent, monthly bills don’t wait—so why should your income? That’s where Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) comes in. --- What is MRR and Why Should You Care? Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) is income that comes in like clockwork—month after month—without you having to constantly hunt for new clients. Think of it like building your own reliable “salary” from digital products or services. Instead o...

If you're new to the UK, one thing becomes clear very quickly: the weather here is full of surprises. Whether you're a student, a care worker, or a newly arrived job seeker, learning how to live with British weather is practically a survival skill. ☁️ Four Seasons in One Day? It’s not just a joke — British weather really can flip from sun to rain to wind and back again within an hour. One moment you’re soaking in sunshine, and the next you’re soaked in rain. The weather here changes fast and unpredictably, especially in spring and autumn. If you're from a country with stable, predictable seasons, this might take some getting used to! 📅 What the Seasons Look Like Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect throughout the year: Spring (March–May): Mild but wet. Flowers bloom, but so do rain clouds. Bring a waterproof jacket. Summer (June–August): Warm (sometimes hot), with surprise heatwaves — but still expect rain. Average highs: 18–25°C. Autumn (Sept–Nov): Cool, breezy, and...

  Source: The Guardian, FT, The Times | AI-assisted summary via ChatGPT The UK government is making significant changes to immigration policy in what is being described as the biggest overhaul in recent years. A White Paper titled “Restoring Control” was released in May 2025, detailing strict reforms intended to drastically reduce the number of people entering and settling in the UK. One of the most controversial changes is the decision to extend the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from 5 years to 10 years. Critics argue that this will make it much harder for skilled workers and long-term contributors to put down roots in the UK. The government claims that this is to ensure migrants are truly committed to integrating and contributing before receiving permanent residency. Moreover, the salary threshold for skilled workers has been raised to £38,700, effectively barring many lower-paid professionals, especially in care and service roles. While highly paid and h...

 --- Source: Office for National Statistics, BBC, FT | AI-assisted summary via ChatGPT The UK has seen a dramatic fall in net migration, with the latest data showing a drop from 860,000 in 2023 to around 431,000 in 2024. On the surface, this seems like a major win for a government keen to show it’s delivering on its promise to "take back control" of borders. However, the deeper implications reveal a more complex picture. This significant reduction has largely been achieved by restricting the number of international students, slashing dependant visa permissions, and tightening work visa eligibility. For example, the UK introduced stricter sponsorship rules and English requirements, as well as raising salary thresholds that disqualify many mid-level and frontline roles. While the number of student dependants fell sharply, universities and industries relying on international talent are sounding the alarm. They argue that the UK is now seen as less welcoming, and this could impac...

Source: The Guardian, Financial Times | AI-assisted summary via ChatGPT Despite a decline in legal migration, the UK continues to face major challenges with illegal immigration—particularly via small boat crossings in the English Channel. Over 16,500 people have crossed so far in 2025, marking a 45% increase compared to the same period last year. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the situation as “deteriorating.” His government is taking a more strategic approach to the problem. Instead of focusing solely on deterrence, Starmer proposes a more “transactional” visa policy—tying migration deals to international cooperation on returns and deportations. A newly launched Border Security Command, established in mid-2024, is now operational and aims to tackle human smuggling networks more effectively. This includes closer coordination between MI5, Border Force, and the Home Office, as well as intelligence-sharing with France and Belgium. However, critics argue that while enforcement i...

Source: The Times UK | AI-assisted summary via ChatGPT The UK is experiencing an unexpected side effect of its immigration and tax reforms: a mass exodus of millionaires. A recent report by Henley & Partners predicts that around 16,500 high-net-worth individuals will leave the country in 2025 alone—more than any other country globally. The primary reason? The government's decision to scrap the long-standing “non-dom” tax status. This tax status had allowed wealthy residents who lived in the UK but made most of their money overseas to avoid paying UK taxes on that income. Its removal, hailed as a move toward fairness, has inadvertently triggered fears among investors, entrepreneurs, and foreign nationals who once saw London as a safe, attractive base. Experts warn this could cost the UK up to £66 billion in capital flight, as individuals move both their residence and wealth abroad. Popular destinations include the UAE, United States, Switzerland, and even Italy—countries offerin...

  Source: The Times UK | AI-assisted summary via ChatGPT In a major vote of confidence for the UK economy, Amazon has announced a staggering £40 billion investment over the next three years. This includes the construction of four new robotic fulfilment centres, AWS data infrastructure, and a major expansion of the Bray Film Studios and central London offices. The move is expected to create over 4,000 jobs, ranging from warehouse roles to tech and AI positions. For a country tightening its immigration rules, this announcement poses a timely question: where will the labour come from? Under the new immigration rules introduced in May 2025, many mid- and lower-skilled jobs—such as warehouse operators and customer service agents—are no longer eligible for work visas. This could create a labour shortage in the very sectors Amazon is looking to grow. The irony is hard to miss: while the UK is closing doors to workers, companies are opening new ones. This investment underscores the need fo...

Moving to the UK can be an exciting adventure, but let’s be honest — finding a place to live is one of the hardest parts. If you’re currently searching for accommodation and feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or even a little anxious, I want you to know: you’re not alone. I’m right there with you. Whether you're a student, a job seeker, or a newly arrived migrant, the search for affordable, safe, and accessible housing in the UK can feel like a full-time job on its own. Many landlords ask for UK guarantors, 6-month rent upfront, or documents that newcomers simply don’t have yet. It’s frustrating, and at times, disheartening. I created UK Buddy to help people like us navigate this journey — not just with information, but with support, empathy, and community. If you’re reading this and you have tips, leads, or even a spare room, please consider sharing. And if you're also searching, don’t give up. There are options out there, and you don’t have to go through it alone. Book y...

How to Open a UK Bank Account Without Proof of Address (Yes, It’s Possible!) So, you’ve just arrived in the UK — maybe for work, studies, or a fresh start — and the first thing you need is a bank account. But there’s a problem: you don’t yet have a utility bill, council tax letter, or rental agreement to prove your address. Don’t worry. You’re not the only one in this boat, and the good news is: you can still open a UK bank account — even without traditional proof of address. In this guide, we’ll walk you through your options and the most migrant-friendly banks that make it easier to get started. --- Why Do Banks Ask for Proof of Address? In the UK, banks are legally required to verify your identity and where you live. Typically, they ask for: Proof of identity: such as your passport or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Proof of address: like a utility bill, tenancy agreement, or a council tax letter But here’s the catch: most newcomers to the UK don’t have these documents right away — ...

If you’ve been thinking about working in the care sector in the UK, especially roles that require travel between clients, getting your driving licence can open a lot of doors. Many home care jobs need you to travel from one client to another—and having a car can make you more flexible, more employable, and more independent. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to get your driving licence in the UK, and share practical tips on how to secure a job in the care industry. Whether you're just starting out or looking for a career switch, this guide is for you.   🛣 Step 1: Getting Your Driving Licence in the UK Apply for a Provisional Licence You can apply online via the official GOV.UK website once you're 15 years and 9 months old, but you can only start driving a car from age 17 (GOV.UK, 2024). You'll need ID (usually your passport), your address history for the past 3 years, and a payment of £34 if applying online. Start Driving Lessons Choose a DVSA-approved instr...

If you’ve just moved to the UK, it’s normal to feel a little lost — literally! Whether you're heading to a job interview, trying to get to your new school, or just finding your way around town, understanding how to read a map is a big help. Here’s a quick and friendly guide on how to read maps like a local. 📱 1. Most People Use Google Maps – So Should You These days, almost everyone in the UK uses Google Maps on their phone. It shows you how to get from place to place, whether you're walking, driving, or using public transport. It even tells you what buses or trains to take and when they'll arrive. How to use it: Open the Google Maps app Type the place you want to go (name, postcode, or address) Tap “Directions” Choose if you’re walking, driving, or using the bus Follow the blue line and listen to the voice guide Bonus Tip: Save places like your home or work for quick access later. --- 🗺️ 2. Paper Maps Are Still Around (Especially in Jobs) Sometimes your employer (especia...

Overview: Sometimes, in a world where artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities are ubiquitous, all you want to do is paraphrase text without having AI rewrite it for you.  This list is for you if you're a blogger who prefers manual control, a student producing a dissertation, or a visa applicant creating a business plan. These five free paraphrase tools or techniques provide you complete control over your words and don't rely on artificial intelligence. --- ✅   1. Thesaurus.com + Your Brain How it operates: Go over the sentence. Rewrite it based on your own knowledge. When looking for synonyms for variety, use www.thesaurus.com. Why it's good: It's a true learning and writing process without automation. Advice: To prevent unintentional plagiarism, always compare your revised version with the original. --- ✅  2. Website of the Hemingway Editor: www.hemingwayapp.com What it does: Emphasizes lengthy sentences aids in manual rewriting for clarity. AI doesn'...

  If you’ve recently completed your  studies in the UK or are planning to, recognizing your options to stay and work after graduation is vital. The UK Graduate Visa, commonly known as the Post-Study Work Visa, offers overseas graduates an exceptional opportunity to get work experience in the UK. An excellent chance for international students who have earned a degree in the UK to remain and work, or seek employment, after graduation is the UK Graduate Visa, also called the Post-Study Work Visa. This blog post explains everything you need to know about the Graduate Visa, eligibility requirements, and how it can help you transition from school life to professional job in the UK. What is the UK Graduate Visa? The UK Graduate Visa, commonly known as the Post-Study Work Visa, offers overseas students who have completed their studies in the UK a great opportunity to stay and work or look for work after graduation. Everything you need to know about the Graduate Visa, its qualifying co...

--- Top 10 UK Scholarships for International Students in 2025 – Plus How I Won Mine! Studying in the United Kingdom is a life-changing opportunity, offering world-class education, diverse cultural experiences, and pathways to exciting careers. However, the cost of tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses can make this dream seem out of reach for many international students. The good news is that there are numerous scholarships available for students from all over the world — whether you’re applying for undergraduate, postgraduate, or research degrees. In this guide, I’ll share the top 10 UK scholarships for international students in 2025, along with application details, tips to help you stand out, and my own story of how I won a scholarship that changed my life. --- 1. Chevening Scholarships For: Postgraduate students from Chevening-eligible countries Covers: Full tuition fees, monthly living allowance, flights to and from the UK, and additional grants to cover essential expens...