Inverness & the Inverness Job Market
World famous for its scenery, hospitality and quality of life, Inverness is frequently placed in the top five most desirable places to live in the UK. It’s economy and local job market has been dominated by agriculture, fishing and tourism for many years alongside the more recent growth of the ‘oil and gas’ sector and related engineering disciplines.
There is also a strong Retail and Call Centre/Customer service sector in Inverness and the surrounding towns. Inverness, the capital of the Highlands is also recognised as one of Europe’s fastest growing modern digital economies.
Inverness, the Highland capital, is the fastest growing city in the UK and is the economic engine of the area, being the regional centre for a Highland population of 208,000. Almost a third of Highland residents live in and around Inverness with its graceful Victorian architecture and elegant bridges spanning the River Ness which flows through the centre of the city. In what other city can you watch wading fisherman peacefully landing salmon in the middle of the working day?
Living & Working in Inverness
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland is one of the most stunning areas of natural beauty on the planet. Stretching from the Shetland Isles in the north to Argyll, and from the islands of the Outer Hebrides in the west to Aberdeen, it is a breathtaking and unique land of unspoilt white sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, primeval forests, farmland, lochs, mountains and moor contribute to a landscape that is unique in Europe. It is also one of the fastest growing modern digital economies in Europe.
Half a million people live in the Highlands and Islands area with the local population greatly boosted by a cosmopolitan mix of skilled professional incomers from across the world. The area is a mecca for outdoor and extreme sports enthusiasts with everything from surfing, yachting, white-water rafting and diving to ice-climbing and skiing well catered for.
The Highlands are also a boom area akin to Phoenix in Arizona or Calgary in Canada as more and more high-tech businesses relocate there to take advantage of the high quality of life, the career opportunities, the legendary friendliness of the people, the purity of the air and the lack of congestion. The lifestyle also appeals to those who can appreciate its inventiveness, spirit, humour, hospitality and work ethic. Many also head north, attracted by the spectacular landscapes.
Despite the economic boom situation houses are still affordable and cost on average half the price of the equivalent in the south of England. Crime rates are among the lowest in the UK while educational standards are among the highest. The number of pupils leaving school with qualifications is well above the national average and the growth of the city has seen the creation of the UK’s newest university.
The University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute (UHI), headquartered in the city, is on now a fully-fledged university with a campus that spreads across Inverness and the wider Highlands. Inverness is recognised as the least polluted city in Britain while the expanding regional economy means that it has one of the lowest rates of unemployment in the whole country.
Many compare the position of Inverness with that of Portland, Maine in New England. Both have striking similarities in terms of population density, cultural and industrial background and on technology as a future growth platform. Portland and Inverness have the same size of population, at c.70,000.
This dynamic, innovative environment is also a rewarding one with around 90% of the technology workforce earning above the average national wage.
Getting there
Despite being in the very north of the United Kingdom, transport links to Inverness are excellent. There are a number of daily flights and direct overnight rail sleepers from London, a selection of flights to Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and other parts, and a network of roads to all areas of the Highlands from the Inverness hub.
World-class shooting, stalking, fishing and climbing are all within easy reach with ski resorts at Glencoe, Nevis Range (Aonach Mor) and Cairngorm. Golf enthusiasts can choose from more than 40 excellent golf courses in the Highlands, some created by world-famous designers such as Tom Morris, James Braid and Donald Ross. The region’s better known courses include Kingussie, Newtonmore, Nairn, Dornoch, Boat of Garten and Helmsdale.
A dynamic economy, cosmopolitan urban culture, quality of life and outstanding natural beauty: Inverness offers the complete package.