Gap Year 100: the best travel companies for working abroad
<< Part two: Volunteering | Part four: Adventure >>
Our annual directory of the best gap year travel companies and websites.
WORKING ABROAD
67. Australia Working Holiday (www.australia.com/workingholiday)
12-month working visas are eligible to UK passport holders aged between 18 and 30 for anything from bar work and fruit picking to being a deckhand on a yacht.
68. Best Gap Year (www.bestgapyear.co.uk)
A website which lists a variety of opportunities available across the globe, from winter jobs at ski resorts to summer sports teaching courses in Australia.
69. BUNAC (0333 999 7516; www.bunac.org/uk) Established in 1962, BUNAC offers working holiday, professional internship and volunteer opportunities worldwide. Specialising in supporting young people and first-time travellers, experiences range from summer camps and seasonal work in the USA, to TEFL programmes in Asia, volunteering in Kruger National Park, internships in Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. Plus 12 to 24-month gap year support packages with visa, optional flights and job hunting assistance in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
70. Gap Work (0113 323 0759; www.gapwork.com)
Job advice for gappers of all ages with opportunities in the UK and overseas. Work ranges from waiting tables to fruit picking and ski instructing. They also have a helpful 'plan your gap year' page which provides a comprehensive overview of all the necessary gap year components, from travel insurance to vaccinations and health advice.
71. GoAbroad.com (www.goabroad.com)
A huge selection of TEFL courses and teach abroad options. They've reviewed and verified over 17,000 travel abroad programs and scholarships for those looking to pursue academic, athletic or industry-related projects. Bookmark options that pique your interest and compare them side-by-side.
72. Helpx (www.helpx.net)
An online listing of host farms, lodges, b&bs, backpacker hostels and sailing boats around the world which invite short-term volunteer helpers to work in exchange for food and accommodation. The typical working day for those on placements through Helpx lasts just four hours, leaving participants with plenty of free time to explore.
73. Overseas Job Centre (www.overseasjobcentre.co.uk)
Provides a list of cheap volunteer work opportunities within teaching, tourism, catering, hospitality, childcare and agriculture and more. Four to five month paid internships available in Thailand through TEFL.
74. Oyster (01892 770 771; www.oysterworldwide.com)
Work in animal welfare worldwide, including South Africa, Costa Rica or Thailand, perfect your Spanish while teaching in Chile, or finance a ski season by working in a Canadian mountain resort. Their Australian outback farm placement starts with a 9-day training programme before participants are offered jobs working on local farms - placements running from February to June cost £1,695, excluding flights.
75. Season Workers (0845 6439338; www.seasonworkers.com)
A strong resource for those interested in working short-term contract travel industry jobs - as a ski seasonnaire or a crew member on a private yacht, for instance. Lists hundreds of adverts for outdoor sports and TEFL jobs, too.
76. Smaller Earth (+44 151 709 1192; www.smallerearth.com)
Provides a directory for seasonal employment, including sports instructor jobs and work within childcare, catering and hospitality. Full and part-time positions available. They offer placements at childrens summer camps around the world. Those who want to teach English don't require any TEFL-training. Alternatively, there are posts like 'leader' or 'camp counselor' for gappers who'd rather not teach. Summer camp in China from £499 for 12 weeks including flights, accommodation and food.
77. Work Away (www.workaway.info)
Puts budget travellers in touch with home stay hosts offering board in exchange for volunteer assistance. Hosts often look for volunteers with specific capabilities such as a second language or practical skill.
78. Work and Volunteer (+44 800 80 483 80; www.workandvolunteer.com)
Lists a variety of jobs and volunteer opportunities across the globe from language assistants to lifeguards. Prices start from £495. Flights, insurance and visas not included.
79. Working Abroad (01273 479 047; www.workingabroad.com)
A UK-based networking service with details of voluntary and professional work in more than 150 countries and its own need-based projects mainly focused on providing work in conservation and wildlife, for example a sea trutle conservation project in Costa Rica or releasing macaws in Costa Rica.
80. Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (www.wwoof.net)
Volunteer work on organic farms across the world from Chile to Sri Lanka. WWOOF is a network of organisations covering nearly 100 countries. In return for volunteer help and a small fee, food, accommodation and opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles is provided.
81. The Year in Industry (01707 871 504; www.etrust.org.uk/the-year-in-industry)
Provides high quality paid industry placements to young people both before and during their university education, available to 17 to 21 year olds or undergraduate students, in England and Scotland. It offers young people the opportunity to experience real working life with availability in all areas of engineering, science, IT, e-commerce, business, marketing, finance and logistics.
