Partner Employment Working Group (PEWG) CIC
When a military family accepts a relocation to an overseas posting, it involves more than packing and moving. Employment factors, especially for the non-serving partner must be considered. Including obtaining the right to work in the new country, understanding local law regulations and navigating potential language barriers.
Whenever a military family contemplates relocating overseas, they must consider whether a partner or spouse can bring their own business abroad or continue with their current employer in the UK, if feasible. Navigating the complexities of overseas work regulations can be challenging. Given that military families frequently relocate to various locations, including overseas, there was a source of concern within the military community of no current access to information available when considering an overseas assignment.
The Overseas Employment Guide (The guide) was awarded £46,500 under the Supporting Partners Programme to help simplify these complexities by empowering families to make more informed decisions by establishing workable action plans. The guide covers working for a Host Nation company, working for a UK Company whilst overseas, and running a company, either as a Sole Trader or as a Limited Company whilst overseas.
It concentrates on significant overseas assignment destinations for the three UK military Services and offers crucial information for partners to support them in maintaining their professional endeavours while living abroad.
Covering Cyprus, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Germany, it serves as a roadmap for working overseas.
The feedback from beneficiaries regarding the guide has been positive, with families articulating the guides invaluable assistance in navigating their individual circumstances:
“The guide is a really useful starting place for working out whether I will be able to work at my new posting.”
“I hadn’t realised how complicated it might be to move my business to Cyprus when we are posted later this year, this guide has really opened my eyes.”
“Thank you for putting this guide together, I am glad we had this information before my partner accepted the posting.”
Sarah Walker, Director chair of The Partner Employment Working Group CIC explains: “The Partner Employment Working Group CIC in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce and with funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust have put together ‘The European Overseas Employment Guide.’ The guide is aimed at Armed Forces families who are either considering a European posting or have been advised that they will be moving to Europe in due course.
“Post Brexit employment of any sort in Europe has become a minefield for Armed Forces families, and this guide aims to explain (not solve) the process of being able to work in the countries where the most common European postings are.
“We appreciate that the information in this guide is complicated, but it allows families to make informed decisions and ask the right questions rather than being surprised when they arrive at their posting.”