Living And Working In Plymouth

Plymouth is a coastal city situated in south west England which is in the county of Devon. It is the second largest city in the south west, after Bristol with an increasing population.  Bordering on to Cornwall in some parts, this ‘Ocean City’ is around 210 miles from London and its nearest airport is Cornwall Newquay Airport.

Plymouth has long been known for its maritime and established military connections with the Royal Navy. Sir Francis Drake himself apparently masterminded the defeat of the Spanish Armada from Plymouth. In 1690, the first Royal Dockyard was constructed just to the west of the city, followed by further docks and then a large Naval network. Plymouth Dock was renamed Devonport in the early 1800s. Plymouth had many important roles in both World Wars, despite being especially heavily bombed in the second World War.

The sea has always been of great significance and Plymouth has prospered from a small town that made its living mainly by fishing and trading to a thriving city which is now home to HMNB Devonport, one of the largest naval bases in western Europe. The base employs several thousand service personnel and civilians whilst also supporting hundreds of local companies.

Recognised as an area of High Potential Opportunity, Plymouth is a highly ambitious city that has been generously invested in and is a city that recognises and acts upon its own illustrious potential. This is especially apparent in that the city is a global centre of excellence for marine science and technology with the city accounting for around ten percent of England's marine industries.

Defence, construction, advanced manufacturing and engineering, business services, digital and creative, transport and distribution, life science, medical and health care are all thriving. Tourism, retail and hospitality are also thriving with Plymouth hosting millions of visitors each year.

Two highly respected  universities - University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marjon  University - both  attract the very best of highly skilled and talented students who will become the dynamic workforce of tomorrow.

Eating out is a real treat here and there are some tremendous places to try with of course, freshly caught fish often on the menu! If you enjoy shopping then you won't be disappointed at all as Plymouth offers a fantastic shopping experience with a great mix of top brand names as well as independent shops.

Plymouth is host to an array of diverse performances, festivals and events all year round. There are so many interesting attractions here. The Barbican and Sutton Harbour are where the sea meets the city and  is at the forefront of Plymouth’s heritage. The stunning and traditionally architectured waterfront location with its cobbled streets and historical buildings are where you can locate several of the city's most popular destinations. The National Marine Aquarium is not to be missed and is an art deco style aquarium plus there are many great places to eat and relax with a drink or simply potter around the shops, museums and galleries. Just a small sample of the attractions are the ever popular Plymouth Gin distillery which offers tours, a shop and a cocktail lounge. Saltram House which is owned by the National Trust is a George II era mansion complete with a wonderful garden, orangery, shop, park cafe and a tea room and there are many varied tours available with plenty of opportunities for outdoor sport.

Plymouth is set to benefit from revitalisation and with around £20 million in recent funding, exciting planned projects will now go ahead such as the waterfront regeneration project.

Living in Plymouth will probably find  you either surrounded by both water and countryside. There are such beautiful properties both here and also in the surrounding areas such as the South Hams, Tamar Valley of Outstanding Natural Beauty or Dartmoor National Park which are all within easy reach. The cost of living here is substantially lower than many other towns and cities in the southern parts of England yet offers an unrivalled quality of life.

The next event being hosted by the UK Careers Fair will be held on April 18th between 10am - 2pm. The venue is the Grade II listed New Continental Hotel, PL1 3LD which is Plymouth’s largest independent family owned hotel and is conveniently situated in the heart of the city.