Glasgow offers a large, well qualified skilled labour pool, a
pre-requisite for many employers relocating to the IFSD.
Excellent public transport networks mean that
1.5 million people live within Glasgow's travel to work area and,
of these, a high proportion have relevant workplace
qualifications.
At all levels from schools, colleges and universities to
professional development, there is a very real commitment in
Glasgow to maintaining the supply of quality labour, to meet the
needs of incoming or expanding employers.
Close Partnerships
This is achieved through close working partnerships between the
employers, public agencies such as Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow
City Council and the education sector.
The city of Glasgow itself features a wealth of educational
opportunities at all levels.
There are over 160,000 students enrolled at metropolitan
Glasgow's four universities, three higher education colleges
and twelve further education colleges.
Each year in Glasgow, around 30,000 people study for skills and
qualifications directly relevant to business and the financial
services industry.
Qualified Labour Force
Over half of all Glaswegians in employment have qualifications
at NVQ Level 3 or above, more than most comparative cities (NOMIS
official labour market statistics 2010).
Over 32% of adults in Glasgow are qualified to degree level,
which is well above the UK average.
A particularly interesting statistic for employers is that more
than 50% of the city's graduates remain in the Glasgow area after
graduation.
University provision in Glasgow now comprises the University of
Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of the
West of Scotland and the University of Glasgow, the fourth oldest
university in the UK, first established in 1451.
With over 75,000 students studying at the four universities,
Glasgow is very much a centre of higher learning in Scotland.
In addition, the Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama and
Glasgow School of Art are hubs of creativity.
Top Business Schools
Glasgow's universities have business schools with first class
reputations. The University of Strathclyde's Business School is one
of an elite group, representing less than 1% of business schools
globally, recognised by the world's top three accreditation bodies.
The University of Glasgow's Business School is accredited by the
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the
Association of MBA's while Glasgow Caledonian University's Business
School boasts the fourth largest intake of students of a business
school in Scotland and a leading edge institution for specialist
areas such as risk management.
Truly International
For companies with an international flavour to their business,
you will hear twenty different languages spoken in Glasgow's
contact centres.
In addition, there are a number of translation companies in
Glasgow, and Strathclyde University's Languages for Business offers
in-company language courses and translation services.
As well as languages learnt in schools, colleges and
universities, there is also a large pool of over 7,000 overseas
students and the Scottish Government offers a relocation advisory
service for overseas talent moving to Scotland.
Schools
Glasgow's secondary schools were recently the subject of a
massive modernisation project, with every one of the city's 29
secondary schools either rebuilt or refurbished.
Along with a further 14 independent private schools in and
around the city, families in Glasgow are offered the widest
possible range of educational opportunities for their children.
Specialist Initiatives
At every level in Glasgow, there are local, regional and
national initiatives to develop skilled labour for employers.
Further Information
If you have any queries or would like more information on the
range of support available to financial services companies in
Glasgow, then contact Colette McBride of Scottish Enterprise on
0141 842 3565 or at ifsd.enquiries@scotent.co.uk
THEY SAID IT …
"There is a ready pool of high calibre talent and, in our
experience, the quality of school leavers and graduates is
exceptionally high."
Jonathan Polin, Sales and Marketing Director Ignis
"From an educational point of view, we have superb universities
and also world-renowned schools."
Murray Cromar, Client Director, Commercial Insurance, AON