Aberdeen Careers and Development Guide
Chapter 1 - Introduction to Aberdeen
Aberdeen City and
Shire has recently been described as the second most
competitive location in the UK in which to do business.
The area is one of the most prosperous and flourishing
regions in Scotland. Income levels are well above the UK
average and the area has one of the lowest unemployment
rates in the United Kingdom. Although most known for its
reputation as the 'oil capital of Europe', there is a
lot more to Aberdeen than the industries and services
necessary to support oil production and exploration.
The City boasts two
excellent universities and a college of further
education. With a history going back over 500 years,
Aberdeen University is one of the oldest in the UK and
has produced three Nobel Prize winners. The first use of
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) was carried out by
Aberdeen University scientists and other Aberdeen
discoveries have been insulin and endorphins. Aberdeen
also has a large teaching hospital with a separate brand
new Childrenís Hospital and further development due in
the form of a new Dental Institute and a joint NHS/university
educational centre. The NHS (National Health Service)
Grampian employs over 16,000 healthcare workers.
Aberdeen airport is the fastest growing BAA airport in
Scotland with new services and routes being added all
the time, whilst the UKís largest transportation
company, the First Group, is based in Aberdeen. Both the
fishing industry (44% of Scotlandís fish landings occur
here) and food processing and agriculture (the region
accounts for around 27% of all food and drink exports
from Scotland) are important sectors of the local
economy. With stunning scenery and a rich cultural
history the tourism industry is also booming in Aberdeen
and the surrounding area.
With such a wide
range of companies and industries in Aberdeen, clearly
there are plenty of opportunities available for those
who wish to work and indeed, providing you have a good
command of English and remain flexible about the type of
work you do, you have a good chance of finding
employment in Aberdeen. In the sections below we have
highlighted the key factors in finding employment in
Aberdeen.
One of the beauties
of living in Scotland is that the Scots have a love of
life-long learning. That means that every step is taken
to ensure that learning is accessible to all, regardless
of age or financial standing. In Aberdeen, we are
fortunate to have two excellent universities and a
College of Higher Education all of which offer a wide
range of vocational and non-vocational courses. Whatever
your previous experiences of education, if you would
like to continue or re-establish your studies in
Aberdeen there will almost certainly be something to
suit you. More information on the possibilities is set
out in sections below.
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