Expert: Willie Wallace - 9/30/2004

Question
Hello, I'm a 27 year old web designer looking to move to the
United Kingdom.  My motivation is political and social - I'm
looking for a drastic change, and I'm somewhat aggrivated by
the current American political climate.  I'm quite fond of
Scotland and i was wondering if you have an opinion of good
cities for me to look into.  England is also an option, but i'm looking
primarily at Scotland.

Here are my criteria:
1) Availability of Graphic Design/Web Design jobs
2) Good cultural scene - arts, music, activities for people my age
3) Liberal political/social climate
4) Good Public Transportation

I am particularly interested in Edinburgh; I've never been, but I
have heard great things.  Also, if this seems like a fools plan, let
me know, I can take it.

Thank you so much for your time and opinion,
Jason

Answer
Hi Jason,

Sorry for the slow response, but I have been away on tour.

Edinburgh is the perfect destination and no, you are not a fool.  

There is, or seems to me to be, a thriving web industry in Edinburgh, so hopefully uou will find work easily - don't bother coming if you cannot obtain a work permit, or you are not independently wealthy.  Working illegally in Scotland would not be esy and would be restricted to dodgy building sites and bars, I'd say.

Edinburgh is host to the world's largest cultural, music, arts and drama festival every year and it is packed with bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, libraries and musemums and galleries.

We are genetically socialist.  Some people profess to be Conservative (our republican equivalent) and some, Scottish Nationalist, but the undelying trend is a strong belief in social welfare and care, education and support for all, so you should be happy with the political/social climate.  I'll give you an idea, when the Labour party finally made it back into government in 1997, of the 72 Scottish MP's at Westminster, not ONE of them was a conservative.  In case you think that was a natural kick against a sitting government, in the previous Conservative parliament, there was only one Conservative MP in Scotland.  We are completely diferent in the way we look at things to the English.  Scots generally are strongly in favour of a European Community, the English seem mostly against it.

The bus system in Edinburgh runs 24 hours and stretches about 10 miles out in every direction.  A bus fare is .80pence and for less than £2.00 you can buy a day runabout ticket to go anywhere all day.  Busses are frequent and cover the whlole city in a comprehensive network.

Finally, Edinburgh is the most beautiful city in the world.  I have been to many of the "rivals" and none can touch Edinburgh - Sydney, San Francisoc, Paris, Florence, Vancouver, Hong Kong, wherever.  Also, the people are VERY nicxe (oh yes we are!).

My advice would be to seek work before you arrive.  If uyou have a job offer, it will make the Visa/work permit easier.  Try the following (and if you cannot find it in the third one, you may as well not come)

http://www.adamantean.com/

http://www.beechwood-communications.co.uk/

http://www.scotsmart.com/c/web-design-edinburgh.html

Good Luck,

Willie Wallace
http://www.celticlegend.co.uk