Moving to Glasgow
Expats moving to Glasgow will find Scotland's largest city nestled snug along the river Clyde in the country's central lowlands. About an hour west of the capital city of Edinburgh, it differs from its affectionate rival by populating itself with fiercely proud Glaswegians rather than the constantly surging tourist and expat population of Edinburgh.
The city itself grew from its shipping and trade origins to embrace its role in the engineering and manufacturing post-industrial period. Subsequently, Glasgow also became a major player in the Scottish Enlightenment movement, producing impressive art, music, and architecture.
This evolution has produced a city of contrasts; carefully combining beauty and rugged functionality.
Once settled in, expats will find many residents eager to chat. You will always encounter a generous spirit and honest enthusiasm among these people. A word of caution, the Scottish people are vehemently proud of their country and do not take kindly to any aspersion cast on their native land, so flavour any criticisms you may have with a large amount of praise.
As the financial centre of Scotland, many expats arrive already having secured jobs in this field. However, to the newly arrived expat with no such arrangement the employment sector is extremely competitive. Employers will have a great many applicants for each position and expect the highest of standards in their candidates. Networking is key and many will find that going through an employment agency will yield the best results.
That being said, even the best networker is no match for some witty banter at the pub on a Friday evening! The Scottish culture revolves largely around the consumption of alcohol in social settings, as well as singing and music. Many will find new friends on an evening out in the city centre, which boasts countless numbers of pubs, bars, and clubs.
Football is also a serious past-time in Glasgow, where the declaration of support for one club over another can mean far more than simply backing a home team. The two 'old firm' teams in Glasgow have rival Catholic and Protestant roots going back over a hundred years.
Getting around in Glasgow is a fairly uncomplicated matter. Trains run out of two major stations in the city centre and provide affordable travel options both within the city, as well as to the rest of Scotland and as far south as London. The bus system is equally as efficient with a reliable and comprehensive time-table servicing the entire city.
From the three major Scottish airports of Glasgow International, Edinburgh International and Aberdeen, you can conveniently access many European routes for very competitive rates. Ferry services are also available to the outer Scottish Islands and Ireland on a regular basis from the coastal ferry terminals.
For an expat arriving in Glasgow, the city may seem overwhelming at first...but give it a very short time and you will feel just as proud to live amongst its Gothic architecture as the born and bred Glaswegians!
The city itself grew from its shipping and trade origins to embrace its role in the engineering and manufacturing post-industrial period. Subsequently, Glasgow also became a major player in the Scottish Enlightenment movement, producing impressive art, music, and architecture.This evolution has produced a city of contrasts; carefully combining beauty and rugged functionality.
Once settled in, expats will find many residents eager to chat. You will always encounter a generous spirit and honest enthusiasm among these people. A word of caution, the Scottish people are vehemently proud of their country and do not take kindly to any aspersion cast on their native land, so flavour any criticisms you may have with a large amount of praise.
As the financial centre of Scotland, many expats arrive already having secured jobs in this field. However, to the newly arrived expat with no such arrangement the employment sector is extremely competitive. Employers will have a great many applicants for each position and expect the highest of standards in their candidates. Networking is key and many will find that going through an employment agency will yield the best results.
That being said, even the best networker is no match for some witty banter at the pub on a Friday evening! The Scottish culture revolves largely around the consumption of alcohol in social settings, as well as singing and music. Many will find new friends on an evening out in the city centre, which boasts countless numbers of pubs, bars, and clubs.
Football is also a serious past-time in Glasgow, where the declaration of support for one club over another can mean far more than simply backing a home team. The two 'old firm' teams in Glasgow have rival Catholic and Protestant roots going back over a hundred years.
Getting around in Glasgow is a fairly uncomplicated matter. Trains run out of two major stations in the city centre and provide affordable travel options both within the city, as well as to the rest of Scotland and as far south as London. The bus system is equally as efficient with a reliable and comprehensive time-table servicing the entire city.From the three major Scottish airports of Glasgow International, Edinburgh International and Aberdeen, you can conveniently access many European routes for very competitive rates. Ferry services are also available to the outer Scottish Islands and Ireland on a regular basis from the coastal ferry terminals.
For an expat arriving in Glasgow, the city may seem overwhelming at first...but give it a very short time and you will feel just as proud to live amongst its Gothic architecture as the born and bred Glaswegians!
