IN-DEPTH REVIEW
“An essential guide to settling in the UK”
By Dr. Adéle Bezuidenhout.
Senior lecturer, University of Portsmouth.
PhD, Industrial and Organisational Psychology
As a South African who migrated to England on a skilled worker visa in 2019, I would have benefited immensely from such a guide. Having a job offer as a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth did not make it any easier to find my feet during those first few months. Had I read Chapter 7 on Banking alone, it would have saved me weeks of frustration. I couldn’t secure housing right away (without a bank account), so I stayed in a Bed-and-Breakfast during the first few weeks.
Yet, without Proof of Residence, I couldn’t open a bank account. Maggie’s solutions to this vicious circle provide practical ones, like letters from employers and digital banks free of UK addresses. Had I used Revolut, Monzo or Wise, I could have avoided this stress.
Chapter 9’s frank assessment of culture shock also makes a lot of sense, especially in the workplace. Moving from South Africa’s warm, open culture to England’s reserved interpersonal communication was not easy. The guide prepares you to understand the queueing culture, the prominent class system, the social adjustment and that, often, what they say isn’t what they mean (for example, “that’s interesting” may actually mean “utterly bonkers!”).
As a behavioural scientist who studies human workplace behaviour, I also appreciate the guide’s balance of emotional reality with practical needs.
Staying culturally grounded (through e.g. South African social media posts), versus actively integrating with English society (hobbies, volunteering), is psychologically sound advice.
This guide does not sugarcoat the uphill battles of NHS waiting times, GP appointment struggles, housing competition, and living expenses. Maggie writes honestly while offering practical tips on navigating these challenges. This is refreshing and empowering. She also has the ability to break complex bureaucratic systems into simple, digestible, actionable steps and explain them in a way that makes sense to the new immigrant to British society.
The guide remains positive without being naïve from the beginning to the end.
It offers an insider perspective on how to access same-day GP access, 7:30 AM arrival times, and yellow sticker shopping (none of which you will find in official guidance). These come only from the lived experience of finding your feet in the new reality. Real stories, like Angela’s housing difficulties and Cathy’s penalty points nightmares, are proof of the advice in the guide’s soundness.
If I had this guide back in 2019, I would have opened a digital bank account right away, registered with a GP registration and joined a volunteer group to address loneliness.
I also would have been ready for council tax as a renter and known not to take British distance personally. Professionally, I can attest to this guide being a comprehensive resource, addressing including new immigrants’ cognitive needs (clear information and strategies), emotional adjustment (cultural preparation), behavioural needs (actions, checklists) and social concerns (homesickness and integration strategies).
This guide is an absolute must-read for anyone considering a permanent move to the UK, particularly from South Africa, another African country, India, or the Middle East.
It’s especially useful for professionals who may underestimate the practical and emotional settlement challenges. Your qualifications may provide doorways, but Maggie’s guide will help to find your way once you’ve gotten pastthose doors