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The Hewitson Walker guide to living and working in Bristol

Welcome to Bristol

Experts. Like you.

THERE’S A BUZZ ABOUT BRISTOL RIGHT NOWCombining a relaxed country lifestyle with a vibrant city scene, Bristol throws together the best of rural and urban living in a way few large cities can replicate.

It’s little wonder that Bristol is rapidly becoming the most desirable destination in the UK, with the Sunday Times declaring it “the best city to live in Britain” in March 2014.

As one of the south west’s leading specialist finance and accountancy recruiters, Hewitson Walker has had a presence in Bristol for over 10 years, recruiting senior finance roles for private and public sector clients across all industries. The positions we recruit include chief financial officers, finance directors, financial controllers, finance business partners, financial planning and analysis managers, financial accountants and analysts. Our office covers the area stretching from Bristol in the west all the way across to Reading in the south east, and from Gloucestershire down to Devon, Dorset and Cornwall.

In this guide, we’ll be looking at why more and more people are relocating to the largest city in South West England in search of a more meaningful career...and a better life.

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A FAVOURITE FOR FINANCEIt seems a few of the world’s best-known brands are attracted to the region too. Boeing, Danone, Rolls Royce and Airbus all base their operations in Bristol. But when it comes to finance, Bristol truly comes into its own.

There are over 150,000 professionals working in finance and related industries there. Among the financial services giants who make their home in the city are AXA Insurance, Lloyds Banking Group, Aviva, TSB, Hargreaves Lansdown and Ge Capital Solutions, making finance one of the largest and most significant industrial sectors in Bristol. And with a large number of hedge funds, law firms and media companies also located there, Bristol boasts an extremely competitive service industry market.

At the same time, Bristol is a hotbed for start-ups and small businesses. Recent research by Grant Thornton and UHY Hacker has found that Bristol is creating 10 times more business per head than any other city in the UK. A study by the School of Management at UCL, which compared the availability, cost and quality of support for aspiring entrepreneurs in the country’s most populated towns and cities, ranked Bristol as the number one place in the UK to start and grow a business.

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THE MARKETAfter suffering a barrage of setbacks in the period following the recession, the Bristol economy is now sailing in much smoother waters - and it’s on its way to far more pleasant climes. With a strong economy and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, currently standing at 4.9%, Bristol is seeing strong growth on a par with the national average.

SALARY INSIGHTSSalaries are strong in the south west. A typical financial accountant in Bristol with two to five years’ PQE can expect to earn between £36,000 and £65,000 a year. Finance directors earn around £70,000, payroll managers £49,000, chartered accountants £67,500, financial accountants £53,000 and finance managers £60,000. In the ONS Annual Average Salary Survey in November 2015, the south west had the sixth highest average weekly salary of all the UK regions. Bristol also boasts high growth in disposable income.

The labour market is certainly suited to the specialist and the skilled. While there’s a lack of low-skilled labour in the city, the strong aeronautics, defence and financial services presence means there’s a particularly high demand for niche roles requiring a high level of expertise. But then that might not be too much of a problem for a city with two universities.

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BRISTOL INSIDERSMEET CLARE

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN BRISTOL? 6 months.

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND? Moved to London from North Wales in 2002 to do an engineering degree at Imperial College, then I worked in practice, gaining my ACA and CTA. Following this I worked in-house at an engineering company for a couple of years before deciding to make the move to Bristol.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS POSITION? Online search.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED IN BRISTOL? Clifton.

HOW DO YOU FIND BRISTOL AS A PLACE TO LIVE? I absolutely love Bristol. It has a good mix of city life and the countryside is easily accessible. There is a good vibrant feel to the city without the crazy hustle and bustle of the Big Smoke.

WHAT’S THE SOCIAL SCENE LIKE IN BRISTOL?It’s a very friendly city and there is so much to do here. I’m really enjoying getting to know Bristol and making new friends.

“I absolutely love Bristol. It has a good mix of city life and the countryside is easily accessible.”

CLARE

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THE LIFESTYLE FACTORBristol offers the best of both worlds - all the cultural, sporting, artistic and social pastimes you could wish for, offset by an abundance of green space and clean country air to help you recuperate. It’s got that perfect balance of bustle and serenity. Here’s just a snippet of what there is to do:

SPORTThere are two professional football clubs based in the city - Bristol City and Bristol Rovers - along with Bristol Rugby if you prefer your ball of the oval variety. Also within a short distance are Premiership clubs Gloucester and Bath. Or if cricket’s your game, County Championship sides Gloucestershire and, a little further afield, Somerset, are also in the surrounding area. Being on the coast, Bristol even offers easy access to such activities as sailing and surfing. The local terrain is well suited to mountain biking, with some of the best trails including Ashton Court Estate and Leigh Woods. In fact, Bristol was named England’s first “cycling city,” receiving government funding to improve facilities and increase the number of cyclists in the city.

THE ARTSAs well as the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, the city boasts an abundance of street art in the form of high quality graffiti, including original Banksy murals. There are also annual street art festivals such as the ambitious See No Evil.

The city also has a strong heritage in the performing arts. Theatre lovers can enjoy shows at the famous Bristol Hippodrome and the Bristol Old Vic. There are also a number of renowned music venues such as the O2 Academy Bristol, Thekla (a former cargo ship now hosting gigs and club nights) and Colston Hall, the city’s largest concert hall.

EATING OUTBristol offers the full range of culinary experiences, from the Stalls of Saint Nicholas Market to high end dining at Michelin guide-featured Olive Tree, Allium Brasserie, Casamia and Pump House, covering a multitude of international cuisine. There’s a great variety of bars, pubs and clubs too, with some of the best-known including the Portcullis, floating cider emporium the Apple, the Old Duke jazz pub, Beer Emporium and the Llandogger Trow, immortalised in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. And best of all, the cost of going out in Bristol is very reasonable too, with a pint of beer generally costing around £3 - considerably lower than in many of the UK’s larger cities.

THE SIGHTSWith its picturesque harbour, medieval cobbled streets, diverse architecture and stunning scenery, Bristol offers something beautiful for the eye of every beholder. From the Wills Memorial Building to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol is a city that transcends the ages. And if you fancy seeing what else the south west has to offer, the city of Bath, with its 18th century Georgian architecture and Roman attractions, is only a short trip away.

TRANSPORTAs well as the usual ways to get around, you can also get to work by ferry! And even the usual ways are getting a makeover. On its way is the MetroBus, a rapid transit system that will make it considerably easier to get around Bristol and the surrounding areas, and a £2 billion rail upgrade in 2017 will connect Bristol directly to London. Compared to London, the cost of travelling is a relative snip too – a monthly bus ticket is around £55. With many designated cycle paths throughout the city, it’s also easy - and safe - for cyclists to get around. The Bristol area is served by the M4 and the M5, with the M32 leading straight into the heart of the city.

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Hewitson Walker

Find your next Finance and Accounting role with us.

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South West and Wales2nd Floor

25 King StreetBristol

BS1 4PB

0117 917 1515bristol@hewitsonwalker.com