Avionics engineer Corporal Guy Dixon swapped the RAF for the world of aviation-related lean management with Airbus in Toulouse. Here he talks about his decision, his resettlement, and his new civilian life.

A soldier whose time in the Army is running out has used the Service’s resettlement package to uniquely retrain as a watchmaker and has invented what he believes to be a world’s first in timekeeping circles.

The Coalition Government has published its National Security Strategy (NSS), ‘A Strong Britain in an Age of Uncertainty’, which outlines its reappraisal of Britain’s role in the world, the risks to our security and the implications for the UK.

Together with the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) which will be published on Tuesday 19 October, the National Security Strategy (NSS) sets out the Government’s strategic choices on “how to ensure the security of our country and how we need the structures in place to allow us to react quickly and effectively to new and evolving threats”.

The NSS and SDSR together provide direction for national security policy, capabilities and resources for the next five years. The NSS allows Departments to prioritise their resources according to the risks set out in the document.

Part First World country, part emerging nation, South Africa has potential if your resettlement ambitions are more along the lines of a ranch than a semi. But this multicultural ‘Rainbow Nation’ is not without its challenges…

South Africa is located at the very southern tip of the African continent, with 1,739 miles of coastline dipping one foot in the Atlantic and the other in the Indian Ocean. Land borders are shared with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland.

The country is classified by the UN as a middle-income country. It has abundant natural resources, a well-developed infrastructure, and is noted for financial, legal, communications and transport sectors that have all developed in the past decade. In 2007, South Africa was ranked 25th in the world in terms of its GDP, and has become a leading player in not just African but also the world stage.

South Africa has 11 official languages (Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu) – only Bolivia and India have more! However, English is the main language of commerce, science and international relations.

The vast majority (79.3%) of the country’s 48 million people are black, with the rest made up of white (9.1%), coloured (9%) and Asian (2/6%) citizens.
South Africa is a constitutional democracy with relatively strong historical links with the UK. The Union of South Africa was a dominion of Great Britain from 1910 until 1961 when it declared itself a republic. The country was readmitted to the Commonwealth in 1994 following the end of the apartheid system.

The official capital is Pretoria, although legislative and judicial spheres are based elsewhere (Cape Town and Bloemfontein, respectively). Beyond these cities there is widespread poverty and, since 2004, the country has seen thousands of popular protests, some violent – many have been organised from the shanty towns surrounding the main cities.

THE ECONOMY
South Africa is a country of stark contrasts. Four areas – Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Pretoria/Johannesburg – are the nation’s economic powerhouses but, outside of these spheres of influence, many South Africans still live in severe poverty – despite the efforts of successive governments following the end of apartheid. Only a few areas have bucked the trend and have seen rapid growth in recent years – these include Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay Rustenburg area, Nelspruit area, Bloemfontein, Cape West Coast and the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

Unemployment is a real problem for South Africans and has continued to worsen in recent years, generally along racial lines. In 1995 the average white household earned four times the average black household; five years later, the average was six times. This is still a country in flux after the huge cultural shift seen at the end of apartheid; there’s still some distance left to run. That said, affirmative action policies have seen a rise in black economic wealth and an emerging black middle class.

With the South African Rand (ZAR) worth around 8p you should be able to afford the odd bottle of Chardonnay. Average house prices are highest in the North and in West Johannesburg at roughly ZAR 1,322,279 (£105,000). There are plenty of opportunities in South Africa for a very comfortable resettlement; and companies as diverse as Barclays and Vodafone are beginning to see the country as a prime business location.

HEALTH AND SECURITY
For many years successive governments did little or nothing to combat the spread of HIV and Aids in South Africa, leading to the death of an estimated 250,000 people in 2008 alone. Under the leadership of Kgalema Motlanthe, this has begun to change, but the country’s largely Roman Catholic population still makes the use of contraception controversial.

In general, however, the country’s public health service is over subscribed and underfunded; those who can afford it have turned to a flourishing hi-tech private healthcare system, furthering the gap between rich and poor.

Like many other African nations, South Africa has experienced a ‘brain drain’ during the last 20 years, reflecting the aspiration amongst certain racial groups and also ongoing fears about crime levels and violence. Crime against the farming community has continued to be a major problem. Middle-class South Africans often seek the better security of gated communities.

A SPORTING CHANCE
South Africans love sport – in particular soccer, rugby union and cricket – and the outdoor life. Perhaps this is because of the country’s large open spaces and a relatively temperate climate (between 8°C in June and 28°C in February). Although soccer commands the greatest following among the young, other sports like basketball, surfing and skateboarding are increasingly popular.

Another factor could be that South Africans were, for decades, starved of international competition as a result of numerous apartheid-inspired boycotts. Since the end of apartheid, South Africa has hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup (which they won at the first attempt), the 2003 Cricket World Cup and the 2007 World Twenty20 Championship. South Africa will, of course, be the host nation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup – the first time the prestigious event has been held on African soil.

The persistent sunshine aside, South Africans were found to be the eighth most optimistic people in the world, according to a survey by Gallup in 2005.

SOUTH AFRICAN TOP SPOTS
Johannesburg: (also known as Jozi or Jo’burg) is recognised as one of the most popular and affordable cities for immigrants. It is the largest and wealthiest city in South Africa, with the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa. While not officially one of South Africa’s three capitals, it’s home to the Constitutional Court – South Africa’s highest legal institution.

Cape Town: the provincial capital of the Western Cape is the country’s largest city (in terms of area, if not population), and most popular tourist destination. It’s also the legislative capital of South Africa, home to the National Parliament and many government offices. The city is famed for Table Mountain, which looks over the city, and its harbour.

Durban: the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal is the busiest port in Africa, and also a major centre for tourism thanks to its subtropical climate and beaches. Durban is the third most populous city in South Africa, forming part of the Thekwini metropolitan municipality. It is renowned as being a safe city with a good atmosphere.

Germiston: established in the early days of the country’s gold rush, this was by 1921 home to the world’s largest gold refinery, the Rand Refinery. This is South Africa’s sixth-largest city, its biggest railway junction and the seat of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality which includes much of the East Rand.

Pretoria: located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, this serves as the country’s administrative centre and de facto national capital. Regarded as a leafy, sedate city, Pretoria sits in a warm, sheltered valley surrounded by the hills of the Magaliesberg range that ensure that temperatures here are invariably a few degrees warmer than Johannesburg.

Port Elizabeth: situated in the Eastern Cape Province, the city is often known by the shortened name PE and nicknamed ‘The Friendly City’ or ‘The Windy City’. It is one of the major seaports in South Africa and, unsurprisingly, is also known as Africa’s Water sport Capital, and is part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality which has a population of more than 1.3 million people.

SOUTH AFRICAN PROVERBS
A chattering bird builds no nest.
A fool is a wise man’s ladder.
A termite grows up in dry wood, and yet comes to maturity.
Abundance does not spread; famine does.
Almost is not eaten.
An Elder does not break wind in public, but in a latrine.
As great birds die the eggs rot.
Before you milk a cow tie it up.
Behold the iguana puffing itself out to make itself a man.
By pounding the dough the bread will rise.

. . .

IMMIGRATING TO SOUTH AFRICA
Requirements for immigration to South Africa are subject to change, and each application is treated as an individual case.

While looking to encourage foreign investment, South Africa nevertheless is looking for immigrants who are ‘seriously committed to investing their assets, skills and experience for the benefit of themselves and the people of South Africa’. Basic requirements are that you should be of good character, be unlikely to harm the welfare of the country and not follow an unskilled or semi-skilled occupation for which there are already sufficient people in South Africa to meet the country’s needs. Applications should usually be made in your country of residence (in the UK, through the South African High Commission), although you can apply while in South Africa on a valid work permit, are married to (or are the child of) a South African citizen.

MORE:
South African High Commission
020 7451 7299, www.southafricahouse.com

Brought to public attention as the filming location for Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, New Zealand – in the Māori tongue Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud –has much to offer.

New Zealand is literally half a world away from the UK which, depending on how you feel about things, could be the biggest single incentive to actually relocate there! When it comes to distance, though, New Zealand is pretty far from everywhere. Mainland Britain is just 22 miles away from nearest neighbour, France; New Zealand, in comparison, is 1,180 miles from Australia – nobody, even covered in goose grease, is going to swim that!

The two main islands that make up New Zealand have an area of 166,950 square miles, not that dissimilar to that of the UK. The big difference, though, is that more than half of the country is given over to pasture and arable farmland, while a further quarter is taken up by forest. Plus, roughly one tenth of New Zealand is considered ‘alpine’ terrain; the South Island has a thick spine of mountains running most of its length, great for skiing and climbing.

Summer is inverted compared with the UK, starting in December. Throughout the year temperatures will range from eight Celsius to highs of 23 Celsius in January with the added bonus of far more sunshine during winter months. Pale and pasty Europeans should take care of themselves in the rays!

THE BASICS

New Zealand has a population of roughly 4.3 million; the majority live in the more urbanised North Island. The main language is English.

New Zealand is home to around 50,000 Maori who arrived in the country roughly 1,000 years ago and are still the largest non-European group.

New Zealand is an independent, constitutional monarchy and member of the Commonwealth. The head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, is represented by a Governor General who summons and dissolves the New Zealand parliament and assents to legislation on her behalf.

Anybody who is 18 or older has the right to vote, including permanent residents who fulfil certain criteria that also apply to New Zealand citizens. To be eligible to vote you will have to have lived in the country for at least a year at some point, have visited the country in the last three years and been present for at least one month in the electorate you wish to be enrolled in.

The New Zealand justice system is based on the English model and is independent of the government.

LIVING

New Zealand has a non-contributory healthcare scheme, with benefits financed directly from general taxation. Immigrants are not eligible to receive unemployment or sickness benefit until they have resided in the country for at least two years.

Anyone can access healthcare services as soon as a residence permit is granted. Visits to the doctor are chargeable with costs that range from NZD$10 for children (six years and older) to NZD$45 for adult. Should you need to stay in hospital for treatment you can choose whether to use a free public hospital or pay for private treatment.

Although healthcare is praised, roughly 60% of the population choose to supplement it with private health insurance.

Most children begin formal education at the tender age of two and a half years, starting primary school at five. Education is free at state schools, though there is a movement towards charging “optional fees” to cover extra equipment and facilities.

New Zealand has eight Universities and 20 Polytechnics, Institutes of Technology and Colleges, offering a broad range of courses in professional, technical, vocational and trade areas. There are also many private tertiary education providers registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority; these could be ideal if you’re looking to train in a completely different field after military discharge.

The cities of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch all have international airports. Several domestic airlines operate across the country, with ferries also available between the main islands.

British or International Drivers Licences remain valid for 12 months after arrival, but once this expires you must pass a theory and practical test in order to obtain a full licence. You can apply for an exemption from the practical test if you’ve held a full UK licence for at least two years.

As in the UK, you drive on the left hand side of the road; speed limits are normally 62mph on highways and 31mph in built-up areas. There are strict penalties imposed for speeding, not wearing a seatbelt or drink-driving.

The standard of living is high and the costs involved are relatively low. One pound sterling is worth NZD$ 0.42. A suggested weekly budget for a family of four is set at around NZ$900 (£379).

The national average for a family home (around 170 square metres) – wooden construction, three/four bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, bathroom/toilet and lounge – is around NZD$340,000 (£143,180).

NEW ZEALAND TOP TEN

Auckland: known as the city of sails, Auckland is surrounded by subtropical island and beautiful forests. New Zealand’s biggest city (population 1,320,000). www.aucklandcity.govt.nz

Christchurch: offers a mix of historic and exciting city life, the second-largest city in New Zealand and largest on the South Island. www.ccc.govt.nz

Dunedin: home of the University of Otago, the oldest university in New Zealand, this vibrant city offers classical architecture and cultural heritage. www.cityofdunedin.com

Hamilton: a major centre for the agricultural region of Waikato, this city straddles the banks of the Waikato river. www.hamilton.co.nz

Invercargill: New Zealand’s southernmost city and a bustling provincial hub for the rural Southland community. www.icc.govt.nz

Nelson: renowned for its natural produce, national parks and beaches with year-round sunshine, Nelson’s relaxed communal character has attracted a large creative community of working artists. www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz

New Plymouth: the urban centre of the Taranaki region, where dairy farming and energy are the two main industries. The dramatic Mount Taranaki dominates the skyline and hints at a lifestyle based on a love of the great outdoors. www.newplymouthnz.com

Palmerston North: one of the country’s largest provincial cities, Palmerston North is situated in the rural Manawatu region. Massey University students give the city a lively flavour. www.pncc.govt.nz

Tauranga: New Zealand’s favourite holiday destination, thanks to its position at the mouth of a natural harbour and the warm coastal climate and white beaches. www.tauranga.govt.nz

Wellington: the nation’s capital is situated at the edge of a harbour and is enclosed by green hills. Though small, Wellington continues to be the cultural heart of New Zealand.

www.wellington.govt.nz

EMIGRATING TO NEW ZEALAND

The New Zealand immigration system is fairly complicated. You can apply for permanent residence under several categories:

-          Skilled Migrant: this is the most popular visa class for permanent residents. You must be under 56 years old and meet the health, character and English language requirements before lodging an ‘Expression of Interest’ with Immigration New Zealand.

-          Family: you can apply as a partner of a New Zealand citizen or resident, if you have a parent or sibling who is a permanent resident or if you’re the parent of adult children living in New Zealand.

-          Business: permanent residency is also open to business owners, company directors or those with a successful history of self-employment and business ownership. There’s no minimum capital investment, though you will have to submit a viable, well-researched business plan and sufficient funds to establish the business. You can also apply for Permanent Residency

For further information and to select the most relevant category for you, visit: www.immigration.govt.nz

I’ve never been to New Zealand before. But one of my role models, Xena, the warrior princess, comes from there.

(Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State)

“New Zealand is not a small country but a large village.” (Peter Jackson, film maker)

“That was the big effect Lord of the Rings had on me. It was discovering New Zealand. And even more precious were the people – not at all like the Australians.” (Sir Ian McKellen, actor)

“Altogether too many sheep.” (George Bernard Shaw, playwright)

“I myself prefer my New Zealand eggs for breakfast.” (HM The Queen)

HEAVENLY CREATURES?

Adventurous types might be disappointed with the lack of wilderness action; there are no snakes, scorpions, bears, alligators, crocodiles, dragons, giants or orcs. They do have spiders, but only one can give you a nasty (and non-fatal) nip.

This issue’s resettlement sitrep focuses on a destinations highly popular with many Brits – Canada!

Canada isn’t the US – which is either a huge plus or a big minus, depending on what you’re looking for in life! Most Canadians, though, like being different from their southern neighbours. Both nations are, of course, built on immigration, but the general view is that Canada has a much more relaxed and pluralistic society – officially confirmed by the 1988 Multiculturalism Act. Successive governments have encouraged racial and ethnic harmony, promoted cross-cultural understanding and discouraged hatred, discrimination and violence.

Modern Canada regularly appears near (or indeed at) the top of numerous international ‘quality of life’ surveys. It has an excellent education system (with the highest tertiary education enrolment in the world) and an economy that, though certainly hit by the financial meltdown (the US is Canada’s major trading partner), remains among the strongest in the world thanks to its large natural resources – and could be among the earliest nations to break out of the recession.

So, is it any wonder that thousands of people from around the world wish to settle in Canada? Around 260,000 people took an oath of citizenship in 2006; could you soon be joining them?

Here are 30 useful things to know about Canada.

ECONOMY

Canada is the ninth-biggest economy in the world, the world’s eighth-biggest trader, and in the top five when it comes to the production of natural gas and metals including copper, zinc, aluminium, nickel and gold.

Though its economy is – typical of any developed nation – dominated by the Service Industries, Canada continues to have a relatively large primary sector, which is particularly important in some provinces and territories. For example, forestry/logging dominates British Columbia’s economy, while the oil industries overshadows Alberta and Newfoundland & Labrador.

Canada is one of the few developed nations that is a net exporter of energy, thanks to the large oil and gas resources centred in Alberta and the Northern Territories and relatively inexpensive hydroelectric networks in British Columbia, Quebec and elsewhere.

Much of Canadian manufacturing (particularly the car industry located largely in southern Ontario) consists of branch plants of US firms, which has raised real concerns about the commitment of US and other foreign firms to jobs in Canada.

According to The Economist, Canada’s economy remains fundamentally strong, but is currently experiencing its worst recession since the 1930s – and is unlikely to exit this until 2011, thanks to a sluggish US economy and other contracted export markets.

Canada’s trade balance has been pushed into deficit for the first time since the 1970s, thanks in part to falling prices for its natural resources – prices for these are expected to strengthen from 2010.

Unemployment is currently at 8.4% (May 2009), the highest figure in 11 years, compared to the UK’s 7.2% (June 2009).

Inflation is currently at 0.1%, compared with the UK’s 2.2% (both May 2009).

House prices dropped by 1.44% during the first quarter of 2009 (source: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation) with expectations of recovery not until late 2009/2010. In the UK, the equivalent figure saw a drop of 4.54% (source: Nationwide)

Canadian banks managed to avoid the worst of the financial collapse that dominated the US and UK economies during 2008.

LIVING

New Canadians are expected to be able to speak English or French; to obey the law and  abide by Canadian values and to understand and respect the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms – both of which forbid discrimination based on ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, age or disability.

Canada’s universal health care system is publicly funded through provincial/territorial taxation. It does not cover glasses or most dental care, though the exact coverage differs between individual provinces and territories. As medical care isn’t automatically covered outside your own province/territory; private health insurance may be required even when travelling within Canada. More: www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Ethnically diverse – more than half of the population do not count English as their first language – the west coast city of Vancouver is, according to Forbes, the 10^th cleanest city in the world and is consistently ranked among the top three of the world’s most liveable cities.

Forbes lists Toronto among the world’s top 10 most economically powerful cities. It’s Canada’s financial capital and also boasts North America’s third-largest concentration of private IT companies.

Automatic taxation in Canada can deduct between 25% and 35% of your income (depending on where you live), contributing to income tax, Canadian/provincial pension plans, employment insurance and any other agreed deductions. You can expect to pay additional tax on goods and services; usually 5% to the federal government and an additional provincial sales tax of between 7%-10% — although Alberta, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Yukon do not have a provincial/territorial sales tax.

House prices in Canada are relatively low – the Canadian average is CA$274,000 (£146,000) – when compared with other western countries and, in common with most developed countries, have been dropping. Prices are naturally highest in the main cities, and the relatively mild climate of the west coast. In contrast, you can pick up a bargain in the likes of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, assuming you can withstand the severe winter weather and general remoteness.

The cost of living is less than in the UK, although this is balanced by generally lower salaries compared to those available in the US, UK and Northern Europe.  Petrol costs are certainly lower, despite a rollercoaster of price rises and falls during 2008.

If you intend to work or run a business in Quebec, it’s advisable that you’re able to speak French fluently, as there is a degree of hostility to English speakers in the province.

Violent crime rates are significantly lower in Canada than in the US, although disparities in other crimes (for example, vehicle theft was 22% in Canada in 2006) mean that the gap between the two countries is less than the homicide rate might suggest.

Canada has an excellent choice of public, independent and private schools with high standards across the country. Fees for studying at college or university vary across the provinces, but most courses are partly subsidised through taxation.

THE BASICS

Canada is the second-largest country in the world after the Russian Federation. At 9,093,507km² it’s 37 times the size of the UK, but has only slightly more than half the UK’s population (33 million).

Nearly 90% of Canadians live within 200 km of the US border, meaning the country contains vast expanses of wilderness to the north. Almost a third of Canadians live in the country’s three largest cities: Toronto in Ontario (5.1 million); Montreal in Quebec (3.6 million); and Vancouver in British Columbia (2.1 million).

Canada’s official capital – a selection made, originally, by Queen Victoria – is Ottawa in Ontario (812,000).

Canada is a federation of 10 provinces and three territories. The 10 provinces are British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Western Canada); Quebec and Ontario (Central Canada); and New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador (Atlantic Canada). The three territories are Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut (Northern Canada).

Unlike the UK, Canada’s provinces and territories enjoy considerable economic and political autonomy from the national government; because they are responsible for areas including healthcare, education and welfare, the provinces uniquely collect more tax revenue than the national federal government.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy and federal state with a democratically elected parliament; formerly a Dominion of the British Empire, it officially became a country in 1982.

Canada’s two official languages are English and French; the latter is spoken by more than nine million Canadians.

The country has six time zones; east coast Newfoundland & Labrador is three and a half hours behind Greenwich Mean Time; west-coast Vancouver is eight hours behind GMT.

Popular sports in Canada include ice hockey, swimming, cross-country and alpine skiing, baseball, tennis, basketball, soccer and golf. The biggest spectator sports are ice hockey and Canadian Football.

Canada is home to slightly more women than men, especially in the cities. Men tend to outnumber women in rural areas.

EMIGRATING TO CANADA

You can follow four main routes to settle permanently in Canada; three national programmes covering skilled workers, family and business or a separate initiative run by Canada’s provincial governments. Success in all depends on gaining a sufficiently high score on a points system, which you can find more about from the Canadian High Commission Immigration Section (020 7258 6699, www.canada.org.uk) in London, or specialist commercial agencies such as Four Corners Emigration (0845 841 9453, www.fourcorners.net) and Migration Expert (020 7494 6464, www.migrationexpert.com). Agencies are useful as they can offer self-assessment tests which giving you a realistic view of your chances of success.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Canadian driving licences are issued by each Province and Territory. If you’re moving to Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, or Newfoundland & Labrador (and can prove you’ve had at least two years’ safe driving experience in the UK), you’ll be able to exchange your DVLA-issued licence for its Canadian equivalent*. Elsewhere, to get a Canadian licence, you will need to sit the relevant written and practical road test to earn – which in some Provinces can take up to two years. UK licences will be accepted for any period between 30 days and six months after arrival, depending on location.

*UK licences issued in Northern Ireland are not currently included in these arrangements.

(Information: Foreign & Commonwealth Office)

In the first on an ongoing series, we offer you a sitrep about resettlement around the world, starting with one of the most popular destinations for ex-pats – Australia!

Down Under has long attracted those Brits looking for a good life in the sun, a nation that – thanks to its strong British history (and indeed a former bias to immigrants from “the old country”) – will feel familiar, and yet comes with career and lifestyle opportunities lacking in a UK gripped by recession, drizzle and the latest series of Britain’s Got Talent.

Australia has long been known as the lucky country, thanks in part to its vast mineral resourses – from iron ore and uranium to gold, silver and zinc – which made many a person’s fortune. Today, the country still has much to offer those willing to work hard and enjoy the benefits. It may be on the other side of the planet, but if you’re looking to put down roots somewhere that’s warm, vibrant and full of potential, then Australia could be the new home you’re looking for.

Here are 50 things you should know about Australia.

ECONOMY

• Australia has the 14^th largest economy in the world.
• The country is the world’s largest exporter of commodities including coal, sheep, wool, lead, aluminium, refined zinc ores, diamonds and mineral. Other exports include veal, beef, lamb and mutton, sugar, cereals, nickel and iron ore.
• Australia’s main imports are machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machinery, and telecommunications.
• Although the agricultural and mining sectors are small (generating less than 5% of Australian GDP), they contribute approximately 65% of the country’s exports.
• Australia’s main markets are Japan (which buys one fifth of the country’s output), China, South Korea, the US, New Zealand and India. Oh, and the UK, of course.
• Almost two decades of economic expansion have been stopped by the global recession. Though its resource-based economy has been hit hard by a decline in commodity prices, Australia is said to have fared better so far than other nations.
• However, critics say Australia has lived beyond its means for a decade, importing more than it exports – leading to a current budget deficit equalling 6.2% of GDP (compared with UK’s 5.4%).
• Household debt, meantime, has reached 177% of GDP.
• Nevertheless, the Reserve Bank of Australia believes the country is likely to recover from recession in 2010, thanks to improvements in China’s economy, a rise in commodity prices and the absence of a subprime lending legacy.
• Taxation is split between the Commonwealth, the States and Territories, and local councils.

JOBS

• To settle and work in Australia, you must be less than 45 years old.
• 75% of Australians work in the services sector (including tourism, education and financial services); 21.1% in industry and 3.6% in agriculture.
• You have a better chance of gaining a work visa if you have at least a year’s recent experience in a profession listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL), published by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/skilled-occupations/occupations-in-demand.htm.
• MODL lists professions under four categories: managers, such as childcare coordinators and engineering managers; professionals, including IT specialists, dentists and registered nurses and midwives; associate professionals, such as chefs and dental technicians; and trades persons, including bakers, joiners, plumbers and welders.
• Unemployment is currently running at 5.7% in Australia, compared with the UK’s 6.8%.
• Some experts are concerned skilled migrants will take jobs from existing local workers, contributing to an extra 300,000 jobless Australians by 2010.
• According to new research by Tourism Australia, one in four Australian employees are not taking their entitled annual leave thanks to workload concerns, lack of cover and difficulties scheduling holidays. Between them, they have accumulated 123 million days leave – or the equivalent of AU$33.3 billion in wages!
• There are numerous employment websites aimed at people looking for work Down Under, but the most official is Australian Jobsearch, which is run by the Australian Government: http://jobsearch.gov.au.
• Many employers will attend the Australia Needs Skills expo in London, 27-29 June 2009. For more information, and to register for an invite, visit http://skillexpo.nga.net.au.
• There are more than 71,400 businesses following business franchise systems, employing around 413,500 people. For more information check out the Franchise Council of Australia (www.franchise.org.au).

GEOGRAPHY & HISTORY

• At 7,686,850km² (2,967,909 miles²), Australia is the sixth-largest nation in the world – after Russia, Canada, China, the US and Brazil.
• Almost nine in 10 of Australia’s 21,263,000 people live in urban areas; the heaviest settlement is along the eastern seaboard and in the south-east corner of the continent.
• The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of six states and two territories.
• The largest State is Western Australia; roughly the size of Western Europe, it has a population slightly less than the West Midlands!
• The official capital is the purpose-built city of Canberra, although the two largest cities are Sydney and Melbourne.
• Almost three-quarters of Australia cannot support agriculture in any form.
• The largest lake in Australia is Lake Eyre – at 9,500km², it’s roughly six times the size of Greater London.
• In 1770 Captain James Cook claimed the east coast of Australia for the British Crown.
• In total, some 160,000 Britons were transported to Australia as convicts between 1788 and 1868.
• Australia currently has nine parliaments; the Commonwealth Parliament in Canbera, six State Parliaments and two Territory Parliaments – all but the State Parliament of Western Australia are currently controlled by the Australian Labor Party.

LIVING

• Sport is massive in Australia; an estimated 6.5 million people – almost a third of the population – are registered with local, regional or state-level sports organisations and clubs.
• Australians enjoy a relaxed outdoor lifestyle, thanks to plentiful back yards, public parks and open spaces.
• Life expectancy is 81.6 years (79.25 for males, 84.14 for females), compared with 79 years in the UK (76.5 for males, 81.6 for females).
• According to the 2001 Census, 92% of Australians are white; Asians make up 7%, with Aboriginal peoples and other ethnic minorities accounting for the rest.
• The first language of 78.5% of Australians is English; about 5.4% speak Chinese, Italian or Greek.
• Nearly one in four Australians were born overseas (compared with 6% of people in the UK).
• Permanent residence in Australia is granted under various classes of visas within four main “streams”: Skills, Family, Business and Humanitarian.
• The Australian Dollar (AU$) is worth about 50p; bank notes are made out of plastic to make them durable and difficult to counterfeit.
• Australian cities regularly feature in the top ten of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Livability survey.
• Though you will need plug adaptors, the voltage for electrical appliances is the same as in the UK, so you take and use current electrical equipment.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Australia’s name derives from the Latin term “terra australis incognita” – meaning “unknown southern land”.
• Between 1838 and 1902 it was illegal to swim at public beaches during the day.
• Australia was the second country to give women the vote.
• In 1933, two thirds of people in Western Australia voted for independence from the rest of Australia, but it didn’t happen.
• Australia Day (26 January) is the anniversary of the first convict-carrying ships arriving in Sydney.
• In 2007, it was estimated that almost 22% of living Australians (almost one in four) had a convict ancestor.
• Highly venomous Box Jellyfish have killed more people than stonefish, sharks and crocodiles combined.
• Baaa! There are 140,000 sheep in Australia.
• Recent years have confirmed Australia’s deadliest natural hazards as hurricanes, droughts, forest fires and heatwaves.
• According to an international survey, the average Australian drinks 7% less alcohol than the average Brit, 25% less than the average German and 35% less than the average Irish person!

TAKING THE HIGH ROAD…

In the first of a new series, we give you a sitrep about resettlement in various parts of the UK – starting with ‘North of the Border’!

What does Scotland mean to you? Tartan and whisky? Bagpipes? Ruined castles overlooking glens of purple heather? Postcard-images of wee Highland terriers, smiling Nessie slugs, tins of shortbread, and ranks of diamond-patterned golf jerseys?

That’s the image often promoted by the Scottish tourist industry, but of course there’s much more to 21^st century Scotland that just tartan tat; for example, Aberdeen’s still Europe’s Oil Capital, Dundee is a major world player in the multi-million pound computer games industry, and Edinburgh remains a notable political and financial centre – admittedly somewhat cowed after the events of the last year!

So, before you dismiss “Jockland” as a resettlement destination, here are 40 things you need to know about Scotland.

ECONOMY:

• According to the most recent Lloyds TSB business monitor, fewer Scottish businesses reported a drop in turnover than in the previous quarter, suggesting a possible “relaxation” of the recession north of the border.

• In the year to end September, Scottish GDP rose by +1.4% (below the UK figure of +1.9%); in the third quarter of 2008, however, it fell by -0.8% (more than the UK’s -0.6%).
• In the year to end September 2008, the Scottish service sector grew by +2% (UK: 2.4%); production grew by +0.9% (UK: -0.5%) while construction fell by -3.4% (UK: -0.2%).
• At the close of 2008 there were 282,330 public and private sector “enterprises” (including businesses, not-for-profit agencies and charities) in Scotland, with an overall turnover of £243 billion.
• Excluding the rest of the UK, Scotland’s top export markets are the US, the Netherlands, Germany and France. In recent years there has been significant growth in markets including China, Thailand and Singapore.

• 30% of Scots of working age are managers and executives; 11% are supervisors, 23% are skilled and semi-skilled, 12% are unskilled and 6% are self-employed.
• Scotland remains a strong location for call centres; these employ roughly 40,000 people.
• Tourism supports around 9% of all employment. More than 20 million tourists visit annually, spending almost £5 billion.
• Scotland has 14 universities – many of which are praised for the commercial success arising from their research – and 50-plus further and higher education institutions. More than half of all Scottish school leavers go on to further/higher education or training.
• Scotland is a net exporter of electricity to the rest of the UK, thanks to a combination of coal, oil, gas, hydro and nuclear power generation. The Scottish Government aims to generate 40% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

JOBS:

• Oil and gas extraction from the North Sea currently supports roughly 40,000 jobs in Aberdeen and Grampian, 70,000 in Scotland and nearly 300,000 across the UK. Numbers are expected to fall slowly in the coming decades.
• Nevertheless, the oil and gas sector is still looking for new recruits as many existing workers are now approaching retirement age, threatening the sector with a significant skills shortage. North Sea main contractors are still involved in long-term maintenance and modifications contracts.
• Scotland is home to roughly one in five of the UK’s biotech companies, employing some 24,000 people.
• Other significant employment sectors: optoelectronics sector (5,000), food and drink industry (55,000), semiconductor manufacturers (5,500), telecommunications (15,000) and electronics (41,600 directly).
• Whisky accounts for 13% of Scotland’s exports, with a value of more than £2 billion a year.
• The mean gross weekly full-time wage in Scotland (2008) was £444.20 (compared with the UK figure of £471.90) – mean wages were highest in Stirling (£544.10), and lowest in Moray (£370.40).
• Major public sector construction projects continue to be planned, including the extension of the M74 motorway near Glasgow and the new road bridge across the Firth of Forth.
• Scotland’s leisure and hospitality sector continues to require people in a wide range of sectors, including distribution, hotels and restaurants.
• About a quarter of Scotland’s landmass is cultivated, mainly cereals including barley, wheat and potatoes (particularly in the East and Scottish Borders), and soft fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and loganberries in Tayside and Angus. Sheep raising dominates the mountainous region in the northwest of Scotland.
• Two of the world’s leading transport operators are based in Scotland: First Group is based in Aberdeen while the Stagecoach HQ is in Perth.

GEOGRAPHY & HISTORY:

• Scotland is a constituent part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the sovereign Parliament of which is in Westminster, London. Since 1999, the majority of government business – apart from the likes of defence, international relations, taxation and broadcasting – have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament sitting in Edinburgh.
• Scotland has its own law and education systems, distinct from those in the rest of the UK.
• There are currently 5,144,200 people living in Scotland, with a population density varying from 3,300 per km² in parts of Glasgow to 8 per km² in the Highlands. So, if you don’t like crowds, head north!
• Average life expectancy in Scotland is currently 74.2 years for men and 79.3 years for women, compared with 77 and 82 years in England.
• Although Scotland’s death rate (+1.1%) is still slightly above the birth rate (+1.07%), the population is currently rising slightly thanks to migration from Eastern Europe and the rest of the UK.
• Scotland is roughly 30,000 miles² in area, and has 2,300 miles of coast. Only 130 of Scotland’s 790 islands are inhabited.
• It’s said that, wherever you are in Scotland, you are never much more than 40 miles from the sea.
• Some 25 million people around the world can claim a Scottish heritage. The Scottish Government’s “Homecoming” campaign during 2009 is designed to attract more of this “Scottish Diaspora” to visit and spend in the “auld country”.
• Less than 2% of Scotland’s population belong to an ethnic minority; half of these were born in the UK, and more than one third have a Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage.
• Approximately 1.3% of the population speaks Gaelic.

LIVING:

• Scotland’s climate tends to be very changeable. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the country  has milder winters and cooler, wetter summers than you’d think, given its latitude –  with average maximums of 6°C (42.8°F) in winter and 18°C (64.4°F) in summer. The west of Scotland is generally warmer and wetter than the east.
• Two thirds of Scots reported a religious faith, all but 2% of which was Christian. Only 12% of the population are currently members of the “official” Protestant, presbyterian Church of Scotland, although 40% of people claim affinity. Islam is the largest non-Christian religion, although there are also significant Jewish, Hindu and Sikh communities in the west.

• The average house price in Scotland is £153,623 (75% of the UK’s £205,372); prices are highest in East Dunbartonshire and Edinburgh, lowest in West Dunbartonshire and Eilean Siar (the Western Isles).
• Scotland offers a host of sport and leisure activities, from football, golf and rugby to mountaineering, skiing and watersports. The Highlands remains a top destination for hunting and shooting pursuits. Scotland’s own Tennis Academy is based at the Gannochy Tennis Centre, University of Stirling – which may help explain the rise of Andy Murray from nearby Dunblane!
• Culicodes impucantus is an unavoidable part of rural life in Scotland; better known as the midge, clouds of these insects love nothing better than biting humans and animals, leaving behind itchy bites. Midges flourish particularly well in areas where there’s a good annual rainfall – so there are plenty in the west of Scotland!
• Scotland is well served by international airports (five in total: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Prestwick and Inverness), motorways and major trunk roads, plus a rail network connecting more than 300 stations across the country and linking with the main east and west coast lines to London.

• Scottish football is dominated by the “Old Firm” of Celtic and Rangers. The rivalry between these two Glasgow teams is legendary.
• Scotland has a strong tradition of live music, ranging from ceilidh bands in local pubs to international acts touring large venues like Glasgow’s SECC. Considering its size, Scotland has produced a large number of internationally popular music acts over the years, including Lulu, Simple Minds, Wet Wet Wet, Annie Lennox and Franz Ferdinand. Scotland’s largest outdoor music festival, T in the Park, is among the most popular in the UK.
• Scotland’s cultural resources include publicly-funded, national ballet and opera companies, national orchestras, museums and galleries. In recent years, a strong tradition of socially aware theatre continued with the international success of the National Theatre of Scotland’s Black Watch.
• Authors from and based in Scotland who continue to dominate the best-sellers lists include Ian Rankin, Iain (M) Banks, Alexander McColl Smith, and J K Rowling.

Thinking about  settling in Germany – what would Grandad say? Well, if he looked into it, he’d probably agree that the country offers great opportunities for British veterans!

WORDS: TOM JAMISON

The Federal Republic of Germany is at the centre of Europe, both physically (it’s bordered by France, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and both the North and Baltic Seas) and economically – it has the largest economy in the EU, which may explain why the European Central Bank operates from Frankfurt!

Germany’s 137,847 square miles is home to 80 million people, including the third largest immigrant population in the world – a mix that brings its own challenges, not least unemployment which fluctuates at around 8% nationally.

Split in two after the Second World War, Germany became a home from home for generations of British military personnel waiting to hold back the Russian hordes crossing the border from the communist German Democratic Republic. After the 1990 reunification, which saw East Germany incorporated into the Federal Republic, the UK’s permanent military presence has been significantly reduced (to essentially just North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony), but chances are you may have served there and grown to love the place – so why not settle down permanently?

THE ECONOMY

Nigh on two decades after reunification, the split between west and east is still palpable – west Germans are half as likely to be unemployed as their east German counterparts, not least because the west is home to major world brands including Mercedes Benz, BMW, Adidas, Audi, Porsche and Nivea. In fact, more than a third (37%) of the world’s largest  stock-market listed companies (judged by revenue) are headquartered in Germany – including Daimler, Volkswagen, Allianz, Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Eon, Deutsche Post, Deutsche Telecom, Metro and BASF. All of this contributes to Germany’s status as the world’s top exporter and manifests in a GDP smaller than just three other countries worldwide.

Although famed for its engineering prowess, automobiles and chemical goods, around 70%  of its jobs are based in the service sector, which may well explain the nation’s advocacy of closer political and economic harmony within Europe. That said, even Germany wasn’t bullet proof against the recent worldwide recession, with Chancellor Angela Merkel forced to approve a €50 billion (£43.8 billion) economic stimulus package.

Nevertheless, there are numerous opportunities; for example, there’s a pressing shortage of skilled IT technicians; according to the German IT Association, a quarter of vacancies left unfilled. The Wall has come down, the Cold War has melted away, and Germany is not a country that’s ashamed or embarrassed to welcome the skills and experience of incomers.

STANDARD OF LIVING

How would you like to work for a company mandated to provide 14 days holiday and unlimited sick days? How would you like a Government-subsidised health insurance scheme based on traditional values but not afraid to experiment with the latest therapies? How would you like to start a family in a country where the insurance system will provide a ‘Mothers Helper’ for eight hours a week for newborns, and where maternity leave can last for three years at 60% salary for the first year? Or, how about both parents taking 14 weeks (each) at 100% of their salaries? It’s a social system that aims to provide the best of everything.

It’s paid for, of course, by higher taxes than you might be used to in the UK , but when everyone is living a much higher standard of living and is happier and feels more secure as a result – it’s not the Germany of leather shorts you might have expected.

Even if you want to be all British about it and still want to cut some costs, you can feasibly live in Germany without a car — punctual, reliable trains can get you to any major city on the continent faster than by road and, with cycle lanes hugging most routes, local journeys can be swifter and greener too.

SETTLING DOWN

House prices fluctuate wildly between different federal states, with those in the east the least expensive. In the north you’ll pay around €185,000 (£158,000) for a detached family home, €235,000 (£206,000) for the same in the West and in the South €310,000 (£272,000). You can expect to pay more than €300,000 (£263,000) in larger cities, with Munich topping the table at a whopping €557,000.

Education policy is controlled at a regional level, but in general there’s an optional kindergarten for three to six year olds and a compulsory primary education for a further 4 years. Secondary education is streamed into different types of schools; the oddly titled ‘Gymnasium’ schools take on the task of preparing gifted children for university over an eight to nine year period, ‘Realschule’ schools handle a broader range of intermediate students for six years, and ‘Hauptschules’ prepare students for vocational courses.

Education in Germany is seen as crucially important to the nation’s success, and Germans are proud of their reputation as ‘Das land der dichter und denker’ (‘the land of poets and thinkers’). In recent years, Germany has reported 91 million museum visits, 20 million theatre visits and 3.6 million trips to listen to a symphonic orchestra. Not that it’s just

Beethoven and Brecht; with 6.3 million official members, the German Football Association is the largest sports organisation of its kind, with the Bundesliga (Germany’s top football league) attracting the second highest average attendance of any professional sports league in the world.

GETTING IN

In recent years Germany has made a greater attempt to attract highly skilled workers by making it easier for them to gain permanent residency – professionals most in demand include natural scientists (biologists, chemists, physicists), engineers and scientific personnel in high tech sectors. Thanks to the European Union Free Movement of Workers directive, as a British citizen you don’t need to apply for a work permit, although you will require a residence registration if you plan to stay for more than three months.

Self-employed immigrants are also welcomed, provided they invest one million euro and can create 10 new German jobs. Family members who enter Germany with highly skilled workers who have obtained a visa, or family members who join them later, can also obtain the right to work in Germany. Foreign graduates from German universities now have a year to look for a job if they wish to stay in the country.

With such a large immigrant population, though, you may find officials a tad overhelmed on occasions, so it’s helpful if you have a valid passport for your entire stay, proof of financial resources, confirmation of health insurance and a liking for queues. Certificates of birth and qualifications can also be handy. A driving licence awarded in the UK remains valid.

Top Spots:

Berlin (Berlin): The capital of reunified Germany has become noted for its liberal tolerances, famed zeitgeist and superb cultural institutions, particularly art galleries. It was awarded the title of UNESCO’s ‘City of Design’ in 2005.

Bonn (North Rhine-Westphalia): the former capital of West Germany may have lost the national Parliament post-reunification in 1990, but it remains home to many national Government departments , as well as a centre for telecoms and logistics.

Cologne (North Rhine- Westphalia): though a city with a long and distinguished history, with its Cathedral and University ranked among the oldest in the world, the city looks to the future – many of Germany’s media organisations are based here.

Frankfurt am Main (Hesse): the country’s financial and transport centre is the only German city listed among the ’10 Alpha World Cities’ – a truly multicultural melting pot, playing host to people from more than 180 different countries.

Hamburg (Hamburg): the second largest city in Germany is an industrial centre, with Airbus, Blohm & Voss and Aurubus factories in the region. It is also a cultural hub with more than 8,500 companies involved in the creative and arts sectors.

Munich (Bavaria): often listed among the world’s top 10 most prestigious cities, it’s also among the most expensive. Also known for being beer friendly; the Oktoberfest is celebrated annually in – er… – September!

Stuttgart (Badem-Wurttemberg): a hub of hi tech industry, regarded as the ‘cradle of the automobile’. It’s traditionally a very safe city, with low unemployment (around 3.8%). Given its industrial pedigree, though it’s also just an hour’s drive away from the beautiful Black Forest.

Quote, Unquote:

“America stopped making vinyl and phased out the single but Germany held out and refused.” Peter Hook

“I like Germany; I’m not into Berlin, it’s too huge and empty and imposing, but Munich was good.” Graham Coxon

“I love Germany so dearly that I hope there will always be two of them.” Francois Maurice

“I think this could be our best victory over Germany since the war.” John Motson

“In Germany I am not so famous.” Hans Berger

“It’s silly to say it about a tennis player, but I’m an unbelievable hero in Germany. And Germany needs heroes more than any place.” Boris Becker

“The tears I have cried over Germany have dried. I have washed my face.” Marlene Dietrich

The South West is more than mysterious moors and sunny beaches. In fact from being built on shifting sands the economy of the South West makes it a solid choice for long term resettlement.

WORDS: TOM JAMISON

The South West is the largest of the nine recognised English regions (23,837sq km) and, with as much as 18% of the land mass, also has the highest regional percentage of rural land in England – up to three quarters of is used for agriculture. Although the region has a relatively small Gross Value Added (GVA) figure of about £97.8 billion (9% of the total for England), experts say that the local economy is robust and poised for further growth.

The South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) has been clever to form a simple two-pronged strategy of developing regional companies’ ability to trade overseas, as well as promoting the region’s businesses for potential overseas investors. As a result, the region has seen steady growth overall, though there are some disparities between different places in the region.

For example, it’s worth noting that more than half (53%) of the region’s output is contributed by Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and North Somerset. The gross weekly earnings for full-time workers in the region was £454 during 2009.

ONGOING SUCCESS

The key to the region’s ongoing success is attracting 1,500 foreign-owned companies to invest – including organisations such as HP Labs, Orange, Honda, Airbus, GE Aviation, Motorolla and Wrigleys. These companies also benefit regional businesses through their extensive supply chains.

The region has a population of 5.2 million (slightly more than 10% of the English total) but, with an average of just 219 people per square kilometre, has one of the lowest population densities in the UK – a higher proportion of people in the South West live in rural areas than anywhere else in England.

Consequently, the region’s urban areas are among the most productive in England outside of London [according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), Regional GVA]; the three main generators of wealth are real estate (23%), manufacturing (13%) and wholesale and retail (12%).

REASONS TO SETTLE DOWN

There’s some heartening news for Service leavers aiming to start their own businesses; the three year survival rate in the South West is approximately 3% higher than the English average. In fact, new businesses in the South West have the best survival rate in mainland Britain, according to the ONS.

There are other reasons for settlers to be cheerful, not least the region’s employment rate of 76.6% (with South Gloucestershire topping the regional figures with 82%), compared with 73% for England as a whole. However, because some parts of the region are not as economically active relative to other parts, the regional GVA per head of population is 10% below the English average – Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are 38% lower than the English average, whilst Swindon is a staggering 47% higher!

The South West presents a very accommodating lifestyle, with almost a third of the region within an area of outstanding natural beauty – including two national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor. As if that isn’t enough, the South West also claims 60% of England’s heritage coast.

LONG TERM PROSPECTS

Although the median house price in the region is approximately £175,000, regional variation ranges from £142,000 in Gloucester to £265,000 in the Cotswold’s. Crime rates are the second lowest of total recorded crime in the UK.

The region also offers the highest life expectancy for women (83.1 years) and second highest for men (79 years) in the UK – no wonder retired people make up 22.5% of the population. When it comes to good ‘long term prospects’, the South West is the place to be.

All of which may explain why, according to the Financial Times, the South West is ranked as the top of the nine English regions to live and work in. With a modern economy aimed at innovation and growth coupled with superb surroundings and lifestyle opportunities, it’s difficult to disagree!

NOTABLE LOCATIONS

Gloucester: has a long history when it comes to aerospace, with the Gloucestershire Aircraft Company changed its name to the Gloster Aircraft Company in 1926. Frank Whittle‘s pioneering turbojet engine powered the first British jet aircraft from the company’s airfield at Brockworth. Today Messier-Dowty boasts that their landing gear touches down more than 35,000 times a day. Smiths Aerospace Dowty Propellers plants are on the outskirts of the city and specialise in engines and propellers for civil and military aircraft. The city is home to the HQ of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Bank.

Famous people born in Gloucester include Harry Potter author J K Rowling, the legendary cricketer W G Grace, and the actor/writer Simon Pegg.

Bristol: the sixth most populous in England has an economy dominated by aerospace, defence, finance, media and tourism. Big employers include Defence Equipment & Support, which employs some 7,000 staff procuring and supporting much of the MoD’s defence equipment. The city’s financial services sector employs 59,000 people, while some 50 micro-electronics and silicon design companies (including the Hewlett-Packard national research laboratories) employ around 5,000 people. The aerospace industry remains a major contributor to the local economy; employers include BAE Systems, Airbus and Rolls-Royce. Bristol is the UK’s seventh most popular destination for foreign tourists, attracting nine million visitors every year.

Famous people born in Bristol include graffiti artist Banksy, Hollywood star Cary Grant and the controversial artist Damien Hirst.

Bath: awarded World Heritage Site status in 1987, Bath nevertheless has a growing information and communication technologies and creative industries. Significant employers include the NHS, the city’s two universities and the Bath and North East Somerset Council, as well as the. Bath is one of the recognised national centres for publishing, with the magazine publisher Future Publishing employing some 650 people.

Famous people born in Bath include England rugby player Olly Barkley, Roger Bannister (the first athlete to run a mile in under four minutes), singer Alison Goldfrapp and comedian/musician Bill Bailey.

Exeter: the Met Office, the principal weather forecasting organisation in the United Kingdom and one of the most significant in the world, relocated from Bracknell in Berkshire to Exeter in 2004. It is one of the three largest employers in the area, the others being the University of Exeter and Devon County Council.

Famous people born in Exeter include Chris Martin, lead singer with Coldplay.

Cheltenham is the UK’s home of surveillance, with the distinctive ‘doughnut-shaped’ building which houses the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). The area is largely supported by financial services providers including Chelsea Building Society, Endsleigh Insurance and Zurich Financial Services, as well as other tertiary concerns such as the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service. Kraft Foods’ UK headquarters is presently in Cheltenham, but this will close in the coming year after the company’s purchase of Cadbury‘s – surviving jobs will be moved to Cadbury sites in Uxbridge and Bournville.

Famous people born in Cheltenham include the actor Robert Hardy, original Rolling Stone Brian Jones and Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards.

Pullout 1: The key to the regions ongoing success is in the attraction of 1,500 foreign-owned companies including organisations such as HP Labs, Orange, Honda, Airbus, GE Aviation, Motorolla and Wrigleys.

Pullout 2: Heartening news for service leavers aiming to start their own businesses is that the three year survival rate of South West enterprises is approximately 3% higher than the English average.