When it comes to excellent job opportunities, prestigious businesses and prospects for an attractive lifestyle, Glasgow gives any city in the UK a run for its money.
So, what makes this cool conurbation, known affectionately as the ‘dear green place’, a top destination for work and play? Let’s find out.
Built of beautiful architecture, Glasgow is famed for its grand Victorian facades and the early 20th-century Glasgow Style developed by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
It’s also renowned for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, with a richly deserved reputation as one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan city break destinations in Europe.
Having reinvented itself as a centre of world-beating design and style, it boasts magnificent art collections and museums – most of which are free to visit – as well as arguably the best opportunities for retail therapy outside of New York.
Glasgow is brimming with world-class retailers, international brands and magnetic independent businesses and boutiques.
You can easily walk from shop to shop along the Style Mile – the retail square in the heart of Glasgow that’s home to designer stores, mostly in Buchanan Galleries and Princes Square. Further afield are the massive malls, such as Silverburn and Braehead.
All of this makes Glasgow a retail worker’s dream destination, with opportunities available for shop assistants, managers and customer service staff.
For visitors who feel the need to re-energise between shop stops, there are restaurants serving dishes inspired from home and every corner of the globe, as well as a vibrant bar and cafe scene. Of course, all these establishments need dedicated employees, from chefs and kitchen assistants to baristas and bar and waiting staff.
Thanks to its hotels and vibrant nightlife scene, it’s also the perfect playground for weekenders – and, therefore, the ideal location for hospitality workers to launch their careers.
The G1 Group operates numerous venues across the city, while nightspots such as the Sub Club are famous across the globe. Glasgow is also home to several huge concert venues and stadiums such as The Armadillo, Hydro, SECC and Hampden Park. These host international sports events, music concerts, and special events – perfect for pros who specialise in marketing, PR and events.
Looking ahead, things are going to get even more exciting for the hospitality sector and events organisers – Glasgow has been confirmed as the host of the prestigious UN climate change conference next year.
In what’s being seen as a multi-million-pound windfall for the city, COP26 will see heads of government as well as up to 30,000 delegates from around the world gather in Scotland’s largest city to draw up a new climate change strategy.
If Glasgow is leading the way in hosting on-trend projects, a recent study by firm, The Business of Cities, also shows Glasgow has a particular appeal to trendy millennials because it caters for the career preferences of younger and mobile workers.
Among the attractions that see it ranked seventh among medium-sized cities on the planet for talented people aged in their 20s and 30s are low-cost housing, fast internet connectivity and high levels of personal and political freedom.
Look more closely at employment opportunities for the younger generation and it’s evident part-time and temporary positions are a major feature, thanks to the number of students living in the city.
Glasgow is renowned for its high-achieving colleges, universities and further education institutions, all of which provide unparalleled learning and employment to thousands.
From historic Glasgow University to the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and ultra-modern City of Glasgow College, this a student-oriented city that has the jobs to complement class time and study schedules.
The city is also a huge media hub. Home to the Herald and Times Group, BBC Scotland and STV, among many others, Glasgow is at the forefront of the Scottish communications scene, making it a great base for journalists, producers, researchers and broadcasters.
For those interested in a career in the financial services and accounting sector, Glasgow’s International Financial Services District (IFSD) is a professional mecca.
This purpose-built environment for financial and business services companies was launched in 2001 by Glasgow City Council and Scottish Enterprise. Today it is one of Europe’s top locations for financial and business services.
Major employers include names such as Tesco Bank, Morgan Stanley, AXA Business Insurance, Bank of Scotland/Lloyds banking group and Barclays. Work is also under way on building a new campus on Buchanan Wharf, on the banks of the Clyde, to house Barclay’s Scottish workforce, which is set to double from 2500 to 5000.
Despite its ‘village’ atmosphere, Glasgow is a major transport hub for Scotland and the rest of the UK, so if you prefer to live outside the city centre, it’s ideal for commuting.
Home to an international airport, two major train stations, a bus station and the famous ‘clockwork orange’ subway system, Glasgow is a gateway to the rest of the UK and the world . . . and a fast-track to employment. For anyone interested in working in logistics, it is the headquarters of multinational organisations such as Abellio Scotrail and Scottish Citylink.
As the old city saying goes, Glasgow really is ‘smiles better’.
So, if you’re looking for a new career opportunity in Scotland’s most vibrant city, check out the latest vacancies on s1jobs.