South Africans are being offered an opportunity to study and gain work experience in the United Kingdom under the new UK Tier 4 student visa, despite the South African Government's termination of the working holiday visa.

This opportunity is available to South Africans through collaboration between South African-based Overseas Visitors Club (OVC) and London-based Fulham & Chelsea College (FCC) — one of the highest academically acclaimed colleges of its type in London.

Debra Lightfoot, owner/consultant of OVC London says: "The partnership between FCC/OVC aims to assist legitimate South Africans, of all ages, to travel to the UK on visas to gain international UK undergraduate and post graduate qualifications and work experience. With OVC's 16 offices located across the country, OVC staff will be on hand to assist candidates with preparing their documentation and liaising with FCC in London to help them achieve a successful UK visa outcome."

A "home away from home"

OVC's service offering does not end once a candidate arrives in the UK. "Our OVC London office, located in the same road as FCC, addresses all our clients' needs when they arrive in London, from opening a UK bank account and assisting them with NI numbers for work purposes to providing them with job information, mobile phone sim cards and more," outlines Lightfoot. "It is important for clients to feel that they have a "home away from home," therefore our OVC London office is able to assist them to find their feet as they start and progress through their studies," confirms Lightfoot.

FCC offers UK degree-level courses in business management, travel, tourism & hospitality, human resource management and marketing. It was also awarded one of the first accreditations in February this year to deliver a new master's degree level course in business management.

Mathew Collins, director of FCC, author of a range of books, including 'How to work and live in the UK' and an immigration practitioner with a vast amount of experience says that an international qualification and work experience distinguishes one applicant from another in this global economy. "It can be the start of an amazing career," says Collins, adding that the above, together with living in one of the most exciting multi-cultural capital cities in the world, makes it an unforgettable experience.

"Best decision I've ever made"

Linda Kruger, a South African who studied and worked in London through OVC under the old two-year working holiday permit, confirms Collins' statement.

Says Kruger: "Career wise, studying and working in London in the UK was one of the best decisions I've ever made." Kruger, a beauty therapist, today owns her own beauty salon in South Africa.

She attributes her success to the fact that UK-based companies are financially viable and not reluctant to send employees for training. "You can gain experience in various fields. Work is readily available and companies employ you even if you don't have previous work experience, furthermore investing in the future of their employees by sending them for the best training available and allowing them to acquire the latest skills in the field they work in," says Kruger.

The experience she gained enabled her to "walk into any salon in SA and get a job" as beauty salons, like many other UK companies in various fields, make use of advanced technology and products, all readily available.

Opened many doors

Kruger encourages all young South Africans who want to gain valuable work experience while broadening their horizons and people skills to go and study and work in the UK. "It has opened many doors for me and enriched me as a person," adding that working in London's multi-cultural environment helped her to better understand her clients' needs.

She adds that the standard of work and service delivery in the UK is very high, therefore laying a healthy foundation for any individual's future working life or career. "My work experience in the UK taught me that professionalism and excellent service are the building blocks of a successful career," says Kruger.

"The fact that you can travel and see the world and that you earn in Great British Pound makes it both an affordable and unforgettable experience," Kruger concludes.

OVC and FCC will be running seven seminars across South Africa during November. For more information, please contact Debra Lightfoot (OVC) on 083 707 2222 or email her on studyuk@ovc.co.za.

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