Living And Working In Belfast

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland and it is also the largest city. Northern Ireland is surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea so you can expect the weather to be unpredictable and wet at times but in general, it enjoys a steady maritime climate. Set on the shores of Belfast Lough, Belfast is the gateway to the Causeway Coastal Route where you can experience the land of legend and fairy tales at its best.

Belfast International Airport is the largest airport within Northern Ireland followed by the smaller George Best Belfast City Airport. Railways and the network of roads make for uncomplicated travel. It takes less than one and a half hours to fly the approximate 520 km from London to Belfast.

It is just a short drive from some fantastic beaches where you can explore incredibly diverse stretches of golden sand, sampling nature at its finest. It is little wonder that the popular TV series Game of Thrones chose to film in Belfast and the surrounding areas.

Belfast was and still is a port city. In the past, the main industries were the manufacturing of the world famous and highly sought after beautiful Irish linen, ropemaking and also shipbuilding. It is here that the ill-fated Titanic was built over three years at the Harland and Wolff shipyard which is still in operation today and is now one of Europe's largest heavy engineering facilities.

Belfast has a diverse economy and has a skilled and talented workforce in this city that is within the top ten tech cities in the UK. Key sectors include advanced engineering and manufacturing, aerospace, creative and digital, financial and professional, life and health sciences, hospitality (which has increased by 7% above pre pandemic levels) and tourism which sees in excess of three million overseas visitors each year. Additionally, there are a number of film and television production companies based in Belfast.

Having been carefully invested in, this energetic and vibrant city has been busy reinventing itself and is now in the enviable position of being the UK’s second most attractive city for technology and finance, after London. Belfast has become a place where people want to visit, live, work and set up a business.

Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University are both prominent universities and offer outstanding educational opportunities for students from around the world. The standard of education in Belfast is excellent and according to statistics, Northern Ireland has some of the highest achieving pupils in the world.

With 3000 acres of parks and forests, timeworn castles and mountains so high that you are able to view the Scottish coastline on a fine and clear day, it is easy to understand the attraction. There is so much to see and do here. Banana Block is a new and exciting living museum and events space, Giants Causeway is a natural wonder on a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on the north coast or you may choose to learn the story of the Titanic at the Belfast Titanic Experience.

There are a wide variety of bars, coffee shops and restaurants to cater for all tastes and whether you prefer your shopping experience to consist of high street names or independent shops, you will find them here. The Queens Quarter in Belfast is a lively area, popular with students which differs from the Cathedral Quarter which has a more cultural feel to it. The city has a thriving arts and music scene and is home to several theatres and museums. The live music, street art and vibrant festivals are plentiful throughout the year and prove just how entertaining Belfast is.

The friendly and welcoming city of Belfast is an exceptional place to call home and to pursue a career. Nestled in the heart of Northern Ireland, it offers a unique blend of history, culture and opportunity. From its rich industrial heritage to its modern day thriving tech scene, Belfast can boast a diverse and dynamic economy.

The next event being hosted by the UK Careers Fair will be held on April 19th between 10am - 2pm. The venue is the Assembly Buildings BT1 6DW. This historic and iconic building is one of the finest meeting, conference and exhibition venues in Belfast and offers state of the art technology in a historically rich environment.