LIFE
Links in this section:
Professional Help
See your Doctor if you are concerned about the effects of stress on your mental or physical health.
They can advise on local support services as well as any necessary treatment.
Youth Counselling
Youth Counselling offer services up to age 25, often free of charge.
Google youth counselling for your area, or try Youth Access – Find Your Local Service
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)
CALM can help you get your life back when things get tough.
CALM is targeted at men, but they will help anyone calling within the UK – no one is turned away.
They cover a whole host of issues including anxiety, alcohol & drugs, eating disorders, financial stress, suicide etc.
Help, information and support – online, Web-chat, through local sources or
Call the Calm helpline 0800 58 58 58 (LINK TO CALL)
(5pm – midnight, every day of the year)
They also have social media links – Facebook Twitter
Mind
Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Contact Mind here
Call: 0845 790 90 90 (UK)
(24 hours a day, every day of the year)
PAPYRUS – Prevention of young suicide
Confidential help and support from trained professionals, for young people and anyone worried about a young person:
HOPELineUK
Call: 0800 068 41 41
Mon-Fri: 10am-10pm
Weekends & bank holidays: 2pm-5pm
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
SMS: 07786 209697
James Wentworth-Stanley Memorial Fund
Suicide/Mental Health Advice
This is a memorial trust for James who committed suicide. It’s a great place for advice.
Also look at their Facebook page where they often post helpful articles about mental health in young people (particularly men).
General Wellbeing
Mind Body Green Blog
General wellbeing blog – from recipes, exercises at home to relationships & more
Exercise improves mental health
Running improves health & mood
The Connection, Mind Your Body
The link between your mind, body & health
Stress
NHS Support
The key to good stress management
Headspace & Headspace App
Described as ‘gym membership for the mind,’ it teaches mindfulness and meditation techniques from as little as 10 minutes a day
Be Mindful
Website containing Information about Mindfulness, including a directory of local classes and an online course with free introductory sessions
Mindfulness in Plain English
Book or eBook by Henepola Gunaratana
Bestselling classic guide to insight meditation
Sleep
The Connection
How to get a good sleep and other good mindfulness tips
10 Tips For a Better Sleep
Boots give their top tips to a good night sleep
The Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep
A great book on sleep! Book or eBook version available
Fun Things To Do
Timeout
Worldwide guide to art and entertainment, food and drink, film, travel and more
Groupon
Deals – local, events, getaways & goods
They have a section called Under £25 – worth a look!
Do – it for fun
How to volunteer in your area
Virgin Experience Days
Some good deals on everything from helicopter rides to michelin star restaurant deals. Still a bit pricey but worth a look
JOBS
Links in this section:
Career Direction
Career Direction
Links in this section:
Psychometric testing & personality tests
Self employment – freelance & entrepreneurs
General career advice
All About Careers
A great website for everything careers, including an online test for career direction. They focus on different industries etc. to give you a bank of knowledge. Plus, a jobs board with lots of listings.
Harvard Business Review
If you enjoy Podcasts, this is a great one: How to Get the Right Job. Jodi Glickman, founder of the communication training firm Great on the Job and a contributor to ‘The HBR Guide to Getting a Job’ talks about finding your next job and how to zero in on realistic career possibilities before you start actually searching for jobs.
Target Jobs
Target Jobs has a lot of advice on many different aspects of starting a career. Find lots of good advice here for personality tests, assessment centres etc.
Prospects
Profiles on hundreds of graduate jobs: includes job description, salary, entry requirements, training, career development, related jobs, vacancy sources & contacts
Career Builder
Career & social media advice, jobs listings in many big cities such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, South Hampton, Bournemouth.
Internships & Work Experience
GOV Employment Rights & Internships
Use the Government website to understand your rights as an intern or employee
Rate My Placement
Internships & placements, plus thousands of reviews to help you decide
Inspiring Interns
This link takes you to London & South East but look on LHS of the page and you can switch to Manchester & The North.
Website specialises in graduate internships (up to 3 months)
Upload your CV & apply for up to 5 internships
Note some roles are ‘expenses only’
Also ‘how to’s’ on CVs, video CVs & interview techniques
Psychometric & Personality Tests
Grad DNA
Use this app to find, test & match your skills to graduate jobs, practice personality, numerical, verbal reasoning tests. They even match you to their jobs board of grad schemes based on your test results!
Morrisby
Personality Profiling, 50+ years of experience in the field
Don’t forget to look at our Personality Test for career direction and our Psychometric Testing page to understand what employers are looking for and how these tests work.
Further Education & Training<
UCAS Postgraduates
Courses, application process, fees & funding
Postgraduate Courses – Hot Courses
Courses, feature articles & FAQs
Short Courses:
FindCourses.co.uk
Portal for professional training & apprenticeships, listing courses from the UK’s top training providers
Code Academy Coding
Skillshare Creative & Design
Learn A Language For Free: 5 Best Websites
Hot Courses
All types of courses in a wide variety of subjects, plus feature articles and FAQs.
Hot Courses generally charge a fee.
Postgraduate, training & vocational, online and fun short courses
Google Squared
Google Squared provides an overview of digital marketing, all the way from the changing digital world, mobile driven behaviour including consumer journeys to google analytics. Although it’s pretty pricey, having completed this course myself, I can’t recommend it enough. Brilliantly organised. Over 5 months you complete group work, individual tasks and lectures.
Self Employment – Freelance & Entrepreneurs
Self-Employment – All About Careers
Helpful info on many aspects:
Making a business plan
How to set up & register a company
Freelancing
Finances: funding, self-employed benefits, corporation tax & business bank accounts
Freelance:
Freelancers.net
Creative & digital
People Per Hour
Creative & digital
Freelance.com
IT, marketing and communications, journalism, translation, training & consultancy
Entrepreneurs:
Startups UK
Comprehensive advice platform for starting all sorts of businesses, e.g.
freelancing & contracting, franchising, tech-start-ups, service & retail.
New Entrepreneurs Foundation
Blogs, news & events.
Browse the latest version of the NEF Directory – a comprehensive list of resources in UK for budding entrepreneurs.
Enterprise Nation
A supportive community, resources & events geared to helping people start and grow their own businesses
Entrepreneur – Virgin.com
‘Inspiration, innovation and advice’
Blogs, interviews, tips & support
Informi – How to start a business in 20 days
Free service recommended by one of our HG Hustlers, who used it to kickstart her design business
Funding for Entrepreneurs:
Kickstarter
Kickstarter helps artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and other creators find the resources and support they need to make their ideas a reality. Crowd-sourced funding for creative projects:
Creators describe their project, setting a funding goal and deadline. If people like the project, they can pledge money, and if the target is reached, it goes ahead.
Start Up Loans
A government-funded scheme, which provides loans and mentoring to start-up businesses;
borrow up to £25,000 at competitive rates, with no penalty for early repayment.
Shell LiveWIRE
Online community for young entrepreneurs aged 16-30.
Free tools, resources and guides in the Business Library
Funding opportunities via the Smarter Future Programme, which awards start-up grants of £5,000 plus mentoring support to young entrepreneurs with initiatives in sustainable living
Incubators & Accelerators:
My Incubator
Provides workspace, training & support networks for new start-ups – free of charge for first 3 months.
Entrepreneurial Spark
‘Free business accelerator for early stage & growing ventures’ – Offers resources & advice in various centres around the UK.
Seedcamp
Accelerator programmes. (London only)
List of Business Accelerators in UK – Entrepreneur HandbookCapital Enterprise
Support services for entrepreneurs & small businesses: advice, technical expertise, finance & workspace.
Entrepreneur Hubs:
Google Campus
Community hubs ‘where entrepreneurs come to learn, share ideas, and launch great startups.’
The Drugstore
(You won’t find any actual drugs here) – they offer ‘funding for a few start ups with real potential’ and also areas to work.
Entrepreneurship Courses:
Business & Enterprise Skills – Alison
Free online courses, which could benefit someone starting or running their own business.
Google Entrepreneur Courses or search ‘Entrepreneurship’ in Hot Courses or All About Careers
New Entrepreneurs Foundation
This education charity offers a free one year learning and development programme, which includes an entrepreneurial placement, workshops, events & networking opportunities, with support from mentors & coaches. Strong competition for places (over 500 applicants for 30-40 places annually).
The Escape School – Escape The City
London-based start-up accelerator programme, online course, events, workshops & tools
Stanford Ignite – Stanford University’s Entrepreneur Course in London
‘This certificate program teaches innovators to formulate, develop, and commercialise their ideas.
Combines current graduate students and entrepreneurs with innovators, scientists, and engineers from leading companies.
Intended for innovators who do not have graduate-level business degrees.
Do Something Different
Non-Corporate Opportunities – Escape The City
All types of fulfilling jobs around the world – from volunteering and internships to full-time professional roles.
Or join a development programme, or connect with the community of like-minded people to share ideas.
Jobs – British Council
Opportunities to pursue personal/professional development via training & study, whilst working
Year Here
Build solutions to social problems.
A postgraduate course in social innovation – demanding but rewarding; explore different ways of working, develop projects, pitch for investment, make a difference.
Likely to lead to an entrepreneurial career dedicated to social change.
Study abroad? – Educations.com
Helpful resource for finding and comparing courses, for anyone considering studying abroad
Social Media
LinkedIn Blog
LinkedIn tips for online job seekers, creating a positive presence etc.
Job Search
LinkedIn Company Searches
Stay up to date with news and company accounts, discover job opportunities, find out if you are connected to employees.
Graduate Recruitment Fairs
An opportunity to meet the top UK graduate employers; benefit from expert advice on your CV, career direction and job-hunting.
The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers
The Guardian – Graduate Jobs
Jobs & graduate schemes
Bright Network
Jobs & internships for graduates of Times Top 20 or Russell Group Universities
Types Of Jobs – Prospects
Profiles on hundreds of graduate jobs: includes job description, salary, entry requirements, training, career development, related jobs, vacancy sources & contacts
Profiles of individual employers, including:
Advice about researching them
Info about their recruitment process, what they look for & tips on how to get hired
Highfliers – The Graduate Market
Annual review of graduate vacancies and starting salaries at Britain’s leading employers
See PDF
Graduate-Jobs
Jobs, schemes & internships
Interviews
Glassdoor
Information on hiring processes for many companies, including questions asked at interviews
Please see our content on Interviews – how to prepare, questions you might be asked
Keep up to date with our YouTube Channel – Hello Grads for interviews with employers, employees about their experiences of interviews and other grad experiences!
Assessment Centres
Job Test Prep
Prepare for assessment centre tasks, exercises & psychometric testing
Assessment Centre HQ
Very good assessment centre advice for all different exercises you might be asked to do
MONEY
Links in this section:
Tax & National Insurance
Working for an Employer, Self-Assessment, Self-Employed, Tax on Savings & Investments, National Insurance
Financial Support
Debt Advice, Benefits, Resolving Problems with Financial Services
Manage Your Finances
Budgeting & Managing Money – Money Advice Service
Advice on planning a budget, managing on a low income & cutting costs
Includes a personalised Money Health Check tool with tailor-made tips to start sorting your finances
Money Tips for Graduates – Money Advice Service
Tips for staying on top of your finances, whether you’re starting your career, planning postgraduate education or travelling
Graduate Bank Accounts – Money Saving Expert
How to set up Direct Debits & Standing Orders – Money Advice Service
Budgeting Tools
Online Budget Planner – Money Advice Service
Budget Planner Tool – Money Saving Expert
Online tool, spread sheet or printout version
UK Salary Calculator
Free iPhone/iPad app that calculates take-home pay, taking into account tax rate, student loan repayments, national insurance & pension contributions.
Tax & National Insurance
Tax – General Help
Get Help With A Tax Problem – Citizens Advice
Tax Rates, Allowances & Amounts – Which?
A good starting guide
Income Tax – GOV.UK
The full details!
Glossary of Tax Terms – Citizens Advice
Tax – Working for an Employer
Income Tax Enquiries – HMRC
Including incorrect PAYE tax code or payments, change of personal details etc.
HMRC Taxes Helpline:
0300 200 3300
Tax Tools for Employed
HMRC Tax Checker
Check whether you have paid the right amount of tax, for the current or previous years
Income Tax Calculator – Money Saving Expert
Tool to estimate your income tax bill, National Insurance & take-home pay
Self-Assessment Tax
Check if you need to complete a Self-Assessment Tax Return – GOV.UK
Self-Assessment Tax Returns – GOV.UK
Sending in your return, paying your bill, where to get help etc.
Self Assessment Tax Returns
HMRC webinars & videos – information & help
HMRC Self-Assessment Helpline:
0300 200 3310
Tax for Self-Employed
HMRC Newly Self-Employed Hotline:
0300 200 3504
Register with HMRC as Self-Employed
Check if you should register for VAT
Find out how much National Insurance you need to pay
Self-employed Ready Reckoner Tool – HMRC
Estimate your Tax & National Insurance bill; work out a monthly amount to set aside for tax payments
Tax Guides for Self-Employed
Tax & National Insurance (For Self-Employed) – Money Advice Service
Free advice online, web chat, phone or social media
Tax Guide for Self-Employment – HMRC
Helpful guide if you are starting a business
Self Employment
HMRC webinars & videos about starting a business, what expenses & allowances you can claim etc.
Tax for the Self-Employed – Which?
Tax on Savings & Investments
Tax on Savings Interest – GOV.UK
How much tax you pay, Personal Savings Allowance, how to reclaim or pay extra tax owed
National Insurance
National Insurance Explained – Which?
(Video – 2 minutes)
National Insurance – GOV.UK
Finding or applying for your NI number, what you pay & where to get help
Debt & Borrowing
For sources of help with debt problems, see Free Help & Advice – Debts
Debt & Borrowing – Money Advice Service
Considerations for borrowing, how to borrow affordably & taking control of debt
Interest Rates Guide – Money Saving Expert
Explains the cost of borrowing, compound interest & APR etc.
Credit Cards & Loans – Money Saving Expert
Borrowing Tools
Loan Calculator – Money Advice Service
Work out how long it will take to pay off a loan, or how much it will cost you
Loan Calculator – Money Saving Expert
Work out the cost & find the best available borrowing options
Credit Rating
Check your credit report:
Credit Rating – Money Saving Expert
Useful facts & tips to boost your credit score
Student Loans
Student Loan Company
Information or questions about student loan repayments
Student Loan Repayment Calculator
Work out how much of your loan you might expect to pay back and over what period of time
Savings
Savings – Virgin Money (3 Minute Film)
How To Start Saving – Money Saving Expert
How to choose the right type of account in the right order to maximise your interest
Find the Best Type of Savings Account – Which?
Step-by-step guide to finding the right type of account
Switching savings
Interest Rates Guide – Money Saving Expert
Earnings from saving or from being in credit
Compound interest, AER & tax on savings
Check If Your Savings Are Protected – FSCS
Tax on Savings Interest – GOV.UK
How much tax you pay, Personal Savings Allowance, how to reclaim or pay extra tax owed
Pensions
Pension Need-to-Knows – Money Saving Expert
When & How to Start Saving for a Pension – This is Money
Investing
Investments – Virgin Money (3 Minute Film)
Beginner’s Guide To Investing – Money Advice Service
Financial Support
Free Help & Advice – Debts
Debt & Money – Citizens Advice
How to deal with debt problems, including working out how much money you owe & which debts you should pay back first
National Debtline
Call 0808 808 4000
or use their online service My Money Steps
Debt Advice Locator – Money Advice Centre
Find free confidential debt advice in England, Scotland, Wales & N. Ireland: online, telephone & face-to-face services
StepChange Debt Charity
Call 0800 138 1111
Business Debtline for the self-employed (a National Debtline service)
Call 0800 197 6026
Benefits & Eligibility
Benefits – Citizens Advice
Benefits for people looking for work, or in work on a low income; help with rent & council tax, health, legal costs etc.
Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
Government website – advice on eligibility and how to claim
Benefits Calculators: find out what you could get & how to claim
entitiledto Turn2Us
Guide to Universal Credit
This guide explains the various elements of the UK’s centralised benefit system, what benefits it has replaced, how to claim, claimants’ commitments, sources of help etc.
Jobcentre Plus
Contact your local office to get advice or make a claim
Jobseekers – new benefit claims
0800 055 6688
Problems with Financial Services
Contacts & procedures to follow if you have concerns about a bank or other financial service
Financial Conduct Authority – FCA
How to avoid or report scams
How to complain about banking & financial services
Phishing – Action Fraud
When fraudsters attempt to access personal data
How to protect yourself, & what to do if you receive a phishing message
Sort out a Money Problem or Make a Complaint – Money Advice Service
Things you should know before you complain, what steps to take etc.
Financial Ombudsman Service
Helps to settle disputes between consumers and UK-based providers of financial services – including banks & building societies, insurance, credit cards, financial advisers etc.
Enquiries & consumer helpline:
0800 023 4 567
General Money Advice
The Money Advice Service
An free unbiased financial service set up by the government (aka ‘What Does MA Think?‘)
- Online information, tools and planners, videos and printed guides
- Support via online web-chat, phone, social media, or email
Contact Money Advice Service
Includes some guides tailored to graduates e.g.
Money Saving Expert
Founded by journalist and presenter Martin Lewis (OBE)
- Money-saving guides, tips & tools
- Comparison website for best buys on financial products, utilities, travel, motoring etc.
- MSE forum for discussing financial & consumer issues
GOV.UK
Comprehensive information from the Government, including money and tax, benefits, pensions, business and self-employed.
Which? Money
Free online advice plus reviews of financial products & services
The Guardian – Money
News & views on money matters
Virgin Money – 3 Minute Films
Entertaining bite size films explaining a variety of subjects e.g. savings, investments, credit cards & pensions
HOUSE
Links in this section:
For specific issues, see the suggested links on Help on Housing:
Scams, Fraud & Purchase Problems
Dealing with your Landlord/Letting Agent
Useful Printable Checklists
Viewings Checklist
What to check & ask when you view a property
Landlord/Letting Agency Checklist
Important points to look for BEFORE you sign any contract or hand over money
Moving Checklist
Things to sort & people to contact when you move, including utilities & service providers
Free Help & Advice on Housing Matters
Shelter
The main UK housing charity, which offers advice, support & legal services
Housing advice helpline:
0808 800 4444
Online Guides to Private Renting – Shelter
(England & Scotland)
How to rent, tenancy agreements, rental costs, resolving problems with landlords & letting agents etc.
Citizens Advice
UK legal charity offering free impartial advice concerning people’s rights and responsibilities
Contact Citizens Advice
Webchat, phone & local offices
Online Guides to Renting – Citizens Advice
See drop down menu for content relevant to England/Wales/Scotland/N. Ireland
Tenancy agreements, deposits, common problems, rent arrears etc.
Citizens Advice also help with issues relating to buying goods & services:
- If you think a company has acted illegally, unfairly, or provided a poor service
- Cancelling a contract or switching suppliers
Citizens Advice Consumer Service
Consumer helpline:
03454 04 05 06
Law Centres
Offer free legal advice for people in their community who cannot afford a lawyer; they usually have solicitors experienced in housing matters
Face-to-Face Advisers
Local Advice Services Directory
Search by postcode – includes local Shelter, Citizens Advice, council services, law centres & other agencies
Online Renting Guides
Private Renting – Shelter
(England & Scotland)
How to rent, tenancy agreements, rental costs, resolving problems with landlords & letting agents etc.
Renting a Home – Citizens Advice
See drop down menu for content relevant to England/Wales/Scotland/N. Ireland
Tenancy agreements, deposits, common problems, rent arrears etc.
How to Rent (England) – GOV.UK
Checklist covering the rental process: Before renting, living in a rented home, the end of a tenancy, solving problems
No-nonsense guide to renting in London – Zoopla
Where to rent, what to consider, likely costs etc.
Get Safe Online
Advice on safe property rental, online payments, transferring money etc.
50+ Renting Tips – Money Saving Expert
Rental rights, energy tips, letting fees & more
The Tenants’ Voice
Tenants’ forum, FAQs, plus advice on tenancy & moving
