While the days of the GBP5 Poms may be long gone, a new exodus appears to be occurring from the UK. Working In, the organisers of the market-leading emigration exhibitions; Opportunities Australia & Opportunities New Zealand, have been amazed at the huge increase in advance ticket sales for the forthcoming series of shows, which offer a fantastic insight into a new life in a new world!
Possibly spurred on by the current economic gloom in the UK, a recent national survey by Freixenet sparkling wine found that if, money was no object, 22% of Brits would emigrate. Sales of tickets for the forthcoming Opportunities Expos certainly prove that Brits are taking steps to do just that: “Ticket sales for our Opportunities Australia & Opportunities New Zealand Expos are up an average 25% this year,” Spencer Hawkes, Managing Director comments. “So, we are certain that more and more Brits are considering work and life opportunities outside the UK.”
With such a groundswell of interest how do the Opportunities Expos help in beginning your new life? The shows provide potential emigrants the chance to meet a range of professional companies who are actively looking to fill jobs for skilled migrants in various roles, including healthcare, education, transport, insurance underwriters, hydrologists, database administrators and mechanical engineers. The Expos also bring together a range of migration resources under one roof – visitors can speak with government immigration departments about the visa process, find a reputable shipping company, change their pounds to dollars and attend information seminars focused on the migration process, lifestyle, housing and employment opportunities in Australia & New Zealand.
Lifestyle opportunities are commonly cited by migrants as a reason for choosing to move to Australia and New Zealand, as well as more space, a better climate and less expensive property. Australia, has a population of around 21 million but a land area 30 times that of the United Kingdom. Similarly New Zealand’s population of four million which is twice the size of England (with a population of 51 million people).
Paul and Jacqui Jackson are past visitors to the show, who have since moved to a West Coast farm in New Zealand. Regarding their move Jackson said: “We have a wonderful lifestyle. We wake up every morning to the calls of tuis and wood pigeons. It’s a stunning place, and I just can’t get over how lucky we are.”
Mr Powell attended the Opportunities Australia Expo in 2006, moving to Australia first on a Working Holiday Visa. Subsequently, he moved on to a Skilled Migrant Visa after he was certain his future lay permanently in Australia. “I moved to Australia for the outdoor life,” commented Richard Powell, now living in Western Australia. “The climate was desirable as was beach lifestyle. I can play all the sports I like out here.”
Richard Powell is not alone! Around 1,100,000 British expats live in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with thousands more choosing to join them every year – and the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/default.stm ) reports that 215,000 Brits currently live in New Zealand.
Notes to Editors:
Opportunities Australia Expos:
London, Chelsea FC, March 21-22
Leeds, Saviles Hall, Royal Armouries, March 28-29th
Opportunities New Zealand Expo:
Hall 3A, NEC, Birmingham March 29th-29th
Tickets to the shows cost GBP15 per adult.
Shows opening times: Sat 9.30am to 4.00pm; Sunday 10.00am to 3.00 pm.
To book tickets for the shows, go to http://www.expo-newzealand.com
http://www.expo-australia.com
Source: Working In Ltd
