Life in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire

Bristol(1 hour)

Birmingham(1 hour)

Cardiff(1.5 hour)

Gloucestershire is situated at the northern edge of the South West region of the United Kingdom. It covers an area of approximately 1,000 square miles including the largest Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the country and has a population of approximately 575,000.

Communications and the local economy

The county occupies a strategic position with major communication networks easily accessible. The M5 motorway from Bristol to Birmingham traverses the county with links to the M4 and the M50. Together with main line rail networks this puts Gloucestershire within easy reach of many metropolitan areas; London to the east, Birmingham to the north, Bristol to the south and South Wales to the west.

There are several royal residences in Gloucestershire, including Highgrove House, home to Prince Charles, and Gatcombe Park, home to the Princess Royal.

The local population

Over the last 40 years the population of Gloucestershire has grown at nearly twice the national average rate. Most of the additional population is in the urban areas around Gloucester and Cheltenham. Gloucestershire is a multicultural and diverse community. Compared to other parts of the country, housing, particularly in suburban areas, is relatively easy to find.

There is a large Polish community in Gloucester, where a wide variety of Polish food, drink and home comforts can be found locally, there is also a portal for the Polish community living in Gloucestershire in the UK - PoloniaGloucester.co.uk.

Life in Gloucestershire

Enjoy Gloucestershire

The county encompasses such areas of natural beauty as the Forest of Dean and the Cotswolds and is associated with picturesque villages such as Bourton-on-the-Water. Other attractions in the county include Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucester Cathedral and Gloucester Docks, housing the National Waterways Museum.

Gloucestershire is home to many theatres and Cheltenham is renowned for its International Music and Literature Festivals with world famous symphony orchestras and authors. Cheltenham also hosts the National Hunt Meeting in March and also other race meetings throughout the year. First class sports clubs include Gloucestershire County Cricket Club with two cricket festivals being held each year in the county. Gloucester Rugby (Union) Club hosts home matches played at Kingsholm, Gloucester. Cheltenham Town Football Club’s home matches are played at Whaddon Road, Cheltenham. Water sports are available at the Cotswolds Waterpark and on the River Severn and Polo is played in Cirencester Park. There are Leisure Centres in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud, which cater for a variety of sporting interests. Gloucester and Cheltenham are both excellent shopping centres.

Education in Gloucestershire

The quality of education in the county is amongst the best in England, with pass rates and University entry rates higher than the national average. There are around 250 primary schools and 40 secondary schools, a large number of Grammar schools and a number of private schools. Further education is widely available throughout the county. There are many friendly educational facilities that offer English language courses.

Many schools in the county have a diverse mix of pupils, with different cultural backgrounds and where English is not their first language. As EU citizens, your children are entitled to attend school in any EU country under the same conditions as nationals of that country. They have the right to be placed in a class with their own age group, at the equivalent level to their class in your country of origin, regardless of their language level. If you are an EU national moving to another EU country for work, your children are entitled under EU law to receive free language tuition in your new home country to help them adapt to the school system there.

Services in Gloucestershire

Health services in Gloucestershire are excellent, with a choice of over 10,000 local doctors to choose from and major hospitals in both Cheltenham and Gloucester, you and your family will be well cared for. The county also supports a diverse religious mix, with over 150 churches in Gloucester alone.

You can access the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) in a range of ways. To find doctors, dentists, opticians, chemists/pharmacies, NHS walk-in centres, hospitals and a range of other services in your area in England, visit the NHS Choices website or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

You will be able to register with a local doctor’s (GP) surgery, who can provide:

• general medical advice and treatment• prescriptions• referral to a specialist or a hospital• immunisations• tests

You will also be able to register with a local NHS dentist, who will offer a check-up every six months to help to prevent any major problems developing.

Religion

There is a good choice of Catholic churches in Gloucestershire, some of which regularly hold mass in Polish.

Cost of Living

The cost of living is very similar to that in Poland and you can expect a very comfortable life in Gloucestershire.

Room to rent in the region of £300 per month 2 bed house in the region of £400 to £500 per month 2 bed house in the price £500 to £600 per month3 bed house in the price region of £600+

Utility bills average around £100 per month.

Omega Resource Group LtdHead OfficeOmega HouseBond’s Mill, StonehouseGloucestershire, UK

GL10 3RF

T: +44 (0)1453 827333F: +44 (0)1453 827444

E: info@omegaresource.co.uk

www.omegaresource.co.uk

Omega Resource Group Ltd part of the Passionate About People Plc Group of companies

Once you have received a job offer from Messier Dowty, you will have full access to the Omega Relocation Resource, which is managed by a fluent Polish speaker. The purpose of this service is to ensure that your relocation to the UK is as easy and stress-free as possible for you and your family:

Support from Omega on relocating

• You will met at the airport of your choice and driven to the temporary accommodation that we have set up for you.

• Prior to your arrival in the UK, we will have sent you details of rental properties according to your preference. Once in the UK, we will arrange for you to view your shortlist.

• We will transport you to and from work until you are confident in making your own arrangements.

• We will help you set up a bank account as well as your National Insurance details, together with registering you with a doctor and dentist.

• We will show you and your family around the local region, pointing out where to shop and places to visit.