Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Highland & St. Andrews and top 7 reasons
We went to visit the northern area of Scotland, mainly the Highlands and also Sant Andrews. We wanted to visit as many places as we could.
In Inverness we went to a place that was like a cultural space. There we found out by talking to locals that there’s a depopulation problem in the Highlands, since more and more people leave the region to go to larger cities, like Glasgow or Edinburgh. So here are some good reasons to move to Scotland.
Speaking with the locals in Inverness and Pitclockery they gave us the opportunity to find out why Scotland is such a popular destination for us, Spaniards, not just for a holiday, but also as a destination to go to live.
Top seven reasons to live in Scotland
1. Opportunities to explore Scotland
– Landscapes
– Historic towns
2. Being part of Scotland’s open and welcoming society
– Friendliness
– The respect that they have to each other
3. Art and culture
– A thousand-year-old history
– Passion for their traditional sports (golf, rugby, curling)
– Their national dress
4. World-class education
– Top universities
5. Great career prospects
– Amazon, Morgan Stanley or a home-grown success story like that of Skyscanner or 4J Studios
6. Experience the Scottish lifestyle
7. Scotland’s diverse culture
Edinburgh Castle
Finally we could buy a ticket to visit the Edinburgh Castle. There we saw all the history and the real crown, the sword and the sceptre, and there we also discoverred the love for their country, and the pride they have of the military and veterans that fought for Scotland. We got to know a lot of history, especially the rivalry with England, especially how proud they are beacuse they beat them in the war for the Scottish independence. The main character was William Wallace, who blew up the Stirling bridge.
Stirling Castle
We spent this day in Stirling. We visited the castle and the prison, this latter also known as the most awful prison in all Scotland. It was built after the first one ever there, where men and women stayed together enduring horrible health conditions, poor to non-existing diets, and horrible unhuman treatment. Now, in the new prison, men and women were separated, diet was more satisfactory, and its goal was to reeducate and work with prisoners from a different point of view, reducing torture, and focusing on reducing criminality. It was sad, though, that it lasted for such a brief time since torture and old manners came back again.
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| Here is the cemetery |
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| The prison of Stirling |
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| Here we have the Hostelling of Scotland (I liked how it looks very much) |
Saturday, 14 September 2024
Second day there
We woke up and we went to have breakfast, a typical Scottish breakfast. While we were having breakfast I was still doing research for my project there on how businesses could be more visible around the world and also how young entrepreneurs could have their own business. I did my research for the organization that did that and I found two of them. One was Forever Edinburgh Business and the other Edinburgh Young Professionals (EYP).
I interviewed a local businessman (he didn’t want us to use his real name, so I’ll be referring to him as “Dear”). Here is the interview:
Me: Good afternoon, Dear. Thanks for letting me make you this interview today, I know you must have a lot of other things to do today.
Dear: Good afternoon, Andrei. I’m glad to be here.
Me: Let’s dive right in. How has Brexit impacted your business since the UK officially left the EU?
Dear: Well, Brexit has brought a mix of challenges and opportunities. On one hand, we’ve faced increased tariffs and more complex customs procedures for our exports to Europe. It’s added a layer of bureaucracy and costs that weren’t there before. On the other hand, it’s given us a chance to refocus on our domestic market and explore new trade partnerships outside the EU.
Me: That sounds interesting. How have you managed the increased costs and administrative burden?
Dear: It’s been a tough adjustment. We’ve had to invest in additional training for our team to handle the new paperwork and compliance issues. We also had to re-evaluate our supply chain and find alternative suppliers for some of our materials. In the end, we’ve managed by becoming more agile and finding ways to streamline our processes.
Me: It’s great to hear you’ve found ways to adapt. Have you noticed any changes in your customer base or sales patterns since Brexit?
Dear: Yes, we have. There’s been a bit of a shift in demand. Some of our European customers have scaled back or moved their business elsewhere due to the new tariffs. However, we’ve seen a rise in interest from domestic clients and even some new international markets outside the EU. We’re working on expanding our reach and diversifying our customer base to mitigate the loss.
Me: That’s so good news. Have there been any positive outcomes or unexpected benefits from the post-Brexit landscape?
Dear: Absolutely. One unexpected benefit has been a renewed interest in British-made products. There’s been a surge in national pride and support for local businesses, which has been encouraging. We’re also seeing opportunities in markets like the US and Asia that we hadn’t explored before.
Me: It’s so good to hear that. Looking ahead, what are your plans to navigate the post-Brexit environment?
Dear: We’re focusing on innovation and diversification. We’re investing in new technologies to improve our manufacturing processes and reduce costs. We’re also exploring new product lines that cater to different markets. Additionally, we’re strengthening our relationships with local suppliers and partners to build a more resilient supply chain.
Me: It sounds like you’re taking a forward-thinking approach. What advice would you give to other local businesses facing similar challenges?
Dear: My advice would be to stay adaptable and open to new opportunities. It’s crucial to stay informed about the changes in regulations and to be proactive in addressing them. Building strong relationships with suppliers and customers can also provide stability during uncertain times. Finally, don’t be afraid to explore new markets and innovate.
Me: Thank you, Dear. Your insights are incredibly valuable.
Dear: Thank you, Andrei. I appreciate the opportunity to share our experiences.
- Well here we can see how the Brexit affected some of the local businesses, however, some of them knew how to change and make things different during the time.
- Nevertheless, some of them are still growing and making more benefits, even though the Brexit has started.
- For little businesses maybe had passed more difficult times, and they couldn’t keep their staff, on the other hand, others whose’s staff kept loyal, nowadays are still doing things selling around the UK and maybe to UE and other places around the world.
By Andrei Palura
First day in Edinburgh
Well, my first impression of Edinburgh was like I was in another world. There people there are so nice, respectful, and happy. Wearing a smile on their faces all day long.
We woke up and we were amazed by the number of people that visit Edinburgh for its history and surrounding area (Glasgow, Sterling, St. Andrews, Lugh Ness, Highlands…).
For instance, we wanted to visit the city of Edinburgh, so we walked all day, and we have seen a lot of places like the cemetery, the church, we passed by the famous police boxes, and we saw what they were selling, but how we were so full we didn’t buy nothing. Then we went to the castle, but the entrance was sold out, so we couldn’t enter that day. However, we have had enter on a museum of the Sottish history.
Here we can see an example of how a day is in Edinburgh:
By Andrei Palura
