Referee issues

[RedMoon]

Hi all,

I have a couple of questions regarding referees.

It is quite difficult to have a referee of "professional standing" but I have a Uni friend who became a contractor so he is self-employed and a managing director of a limited company. However, we have met 7 years ago and lived in the same student community in Birmingham for 4 years. Since then he moved back to Scotland where he is from and I moved to London. We are in regular contact but haven't seen each other physically for the last 3 years.

Hence my questions:
1) can a referee be from a city at a different corner of the UK?
2) does the requirement of knowing an applicant for 3 years does not relate to the last 3 years but to 3 years in general?

also, 3) regarding the other referee: can the other referee live at the same address as I do?

and 4) can a referee be "only" a work colleague (a graduate intake colleague)?

Big thanks for your help.

[milan69]

I don't see a problem there.
Your first referee can be a managing director of LTD and he can live in another city.
2. It is not last 3 years but minimum 3 years.
Your second referee only has to be British, over 25 years and to have know you for over 3 years. I don't think the address is an issue.

[RedMoon]

Big thanks milan69,

And what about the last issue: can a referee (the first or second one) be a colleague from the same workplace which I know in a more professional capacity only or is this not a problem as well?

[milan69]

It is not a problem, it can be from the same workplace.
The first referee has to be a professional, and manager of LTD company would do.
For the second referee professional status is irrelevant. As I said your second referee only has to be British, over 25 years and to have know you for over 3 years.

[RedMoon]

Hi milan69,

I meant the first, professional referee being only a colleague in case my Scottish mate backs off. I'm just scanning my Facebook friend list for ppl that might be suitable and there are not many.

But I understand from what you've written that it doesn't matter for either. I swear that I've read somewhere in some of the guides that a referee (don't know whether any or both) can't be only known in professional/colleague capacity.