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Annex 3 Topic Guide for In-Migrant Interviews
Experience of People who Relocate to Scotland
Topic Guide for Depth Interviews with Individuals
Aim: To explore individual's experience of relocating from outwith Scotland
Objectives:
To explore fully:
1. People's knowledge of Scotland including:
- How they found out about life in Scotland.
- Their perceptions of Scotland before and after the move.
- The impacts of any previous visits to Scotland.
- Any previous links to Scotland.
- Characteristics of those who relocate.
2. What made Scotland attractive to people who relocated, including:
- People's reasons and influences for relocating to, and staying in Scotland.
- Where else they considered moving to.
- The barriers and hurdles people have faced in relocating.
- Which geographical areas have been attractive to people who relocate and why.
- What were the most positive aspects of moving to Scotland?
- What could Scotland could do to attract more people to relocate.
3. People's experience of Scotland, including:
- The barriers and hurdles people have faced in remaining in Scotland.
- People's experiences of living in Scotland.
- The importance of respondents' personal characteristics to their experience.
- What do they miss about the places they moved from?
1. Introduction / warm up
Introduction to TNS Social; background to project; purpose of interview (refer to objectives, p1); confidentially and tape recording; thanks for completing pre-interview tasks and explain we will be referring to these throughout the interview and will keep them for reference.
When did they move and where did they come from?
2. Knowledge of Scotland
What previous connections did they have to Scotland/the area they relocated to?
Before relocating: how did they find out about Scotland, what were the best sources (publications, organisations etc)?
Was there any information they wanted to know but could not find out? If so, what?
Any suggestions for improvement?
What were their perceptions of Scotland before relocating?
Prompt for price of living, lifestyle, people, community, job prospects, business environment (if applicable), academic strength (if applicable) etc
What are the origins of those perceptions (family, media etc)?
What impact did any previous visits to Scotland have on their decision to relocate?
For returners:
Did they leave with the intention of coming back, if not, why did they come back?
How often did they come back to visit?
Do they still have friends or family in the area?
Do they ever talk to friends/peers about returning - what might prompt them to do so?
3. Attractiveness of Scotland
Identify when and why the idea of moving (back) first presented itself, how the idea gestated and developed and what triggered the process of actually moving. Explore any significant life events that preceded the move. Also understand how areas are selected and what factors, if any, are critical.
3.1 Deciding on the move
When was the very first time they thought they might move to Scotland? What 'planted the seed'?
Which factors did they take into consideration in relocating - which were the most important factors and why?
Determine whether there was a conscious process of deciding upon the move or whether it was more spontaneous and opportunistic?
Was there one specific thing that made the move possible?
If they hadn't made the move when they did, would they have done it in the future? If yes, why did they do it now, and what were the reasons for always wanting to do it?
Did they have any apprehensions about relocating and if so, what were they? Were these apprehensions realised when they relocated? How?
3.2 Choosing the location
How was the choice of location made? Was there a conscious process of narrowing and selecting or was it more spontaneous and opportunistic?
Where did they consider moving to and why? Prompt:
- City vs town vs rural area
- Different regions of Scotland
- Other parts of the UK
- Other countries
What factors were critical in determining where they moved to?
What type of area did they move from?
3.3 Making the move
What barriers did they have to overcome to relocate to Scotland?
Did they experience any problems with:
- Work permits/immigration?
- Finding accommodation?
- Finding work? (This will be explored further in the last section)
- Partner/family settling in? Children settling in? Finding schools?
- Cost of living?
- Language?
- Anything else?
Was there anything that helped make the move easier, and if so, what was it?
4. Experiences of Scotland
Ask them to describe their experiences of relocating to Scotland in terms of:
- Accommodation/housing experiences
- Neighbourhood experiences/contact with local people
- Work experiences
- Use of public services including schools, hospitals, transport etc
- How they felt emotionally - isolated/lonely v accepted?
What lifestyle factors are important to them as in-migrants to Scotland; what activities do they enjoy, what is good vs what could be improved? - What is missing?
Have they experienced any racial/religious/cultural intolerance/tolerance; if yes, what was it and what impact has this had on their decision to remain in Scotland?
To what extent do they feel involved in their local community?
What do they think is the role/relevance/importance of their personal characteristics in their experience of moving to Scotland; age, sex, country of origin, place of residence, date of arrival etc.?
How important are family/community links in determining their attitudes and experience of living in Scotland: children/age of children/links to family members/member of shared community etc?
How likely are they to remain in Scotland? Why?
What barriers, if any, have they faced in seeking to remain in Scotland?
How have their experiences of Scotland influenced their desire to remain or leave?
Can they see circumstances in which they would move away from Scotland? Or move elsewhere in Scotland? What would they be, and where would they go?
What do they miss about the place they moved from?
5a. Entrepreneurs/self employed
5a.1 Type of business
Was their business started in Scotland or brought in from outwith?
When was it started?
Number of employees and approx turnover?
What does the business do?
5a.2 Deciding on the move
What role did the business play in their decision to relocate?
Determine whether they decided to set up business before they decided to relocate.
If so:
- What did they see as the advantages of running a business in Scotland/this area?
- What did they see as the disadvantages?
- Did they contact any organisations/anyone about setting up a business in Scotland?
- How did they hear about them?
- What help/guidance was offered?
- Was it helpful?
- What else would have been useful to have known beforehand?
5a.3 Starting/moving the business
What problems did they face in starting up/moving their business to Scotland?
Prompt for:
- Recruitment
- Finding Accommodation
- Business regulation
- Attracting business/customers
- Raising finance
- Business and work culture
What have been the advantages of running a business in Scotland?
What have been the disadvantages?
What could be done to attract more entrepreneurs into Scotland?
5b. Employees
5b.1 Employer
What does the company they work for do?
Do they actively recruit from outwith Scotland?
Approx numbers/proportions of employees from outwith?
Were they remunerated for the relocation? How? Was it sufficient?
Did employer supply them with information on living and working in Scotland/the area?
Probe for help with:
- Work permits/immigration
- Finding accommodation (and schools if applicable)
- Advice on cost of living
- Other
What else could their employer have done to help with the relocation?
5b.2 The job
Determine whether in the same job/company now as when first relocated - if changed, explore both jobs to see if there was progression between jobs.
What came first - decision to relocate to Scotland or job offer?
Explore relationship between location and job in terms of making the decision.
- If job offer came first, had they considered living in Scotland before?
- If decision to relocate came first, are they in a job they want to be in?
How did they hear about the job?
Did they have specialist skills that were particularly attractive to their employer?
Do they get the impression that Scottish employers have difficulty finding people with their skills in Scotland?
- If so, do they feel that contributed to them being recruited, as someone from outwith Scotland?
Have they/did they have any problems in settling into the job? What were they?
If they were doing a similar job before they relocated, what are the differences in doing the same work in Scotland?
How is the work culture in Scotland different to other places they have worked?
5c. Post-graduate students
5c.1 University and location
What attracted them to study in Scotland/their particular university?
Which other universities did they consider?
What was the deciding factor in choosing this university?
Do they feel that they made the right choice? Why?
What support was available for relocating as a postgraduate student?
What other support would they have wanted to help them settle in?
5c.2 Experiences of Scotland and prospects
Do they think they will continue to study/work in Scotland?
If yes, what keeps them in Scotland?
- Where else in Scotland is an attractive location for them?
- Why would they not want to return to the place they came from?
If no, where do they see themselves going?
- Why would they not stay in Scotland?
- What would make them stay in Scotland?
5c.3 Future Employers
Having studied in Scotland, do they feel this makes them attractive to employers? Why?
Do they expect/have they been actively recruited by employers from within Scotland? From outwith Scotland?
Do they expect/have they approached employers from within Scotland? From outwith Scotland?
6. Finally (ask all)…
What have been the best aspects of relocating to Scotland?
What would people similar to themselves who were thinking of moving to Scotland want to hear about?
What could Scotland do to attract and retain more in-migrants?
If not already covered - Did they receive support from any organisations (or people) in choosing Scotland as a location, relocating, or settling into the area? Who? How?
What help do they think should be available? Which organisations should provide it?
Are they aware of any local or Scottish-wide policy initiatives intended to attract and retain people?
If not - Provide information on Fresh Talent Initiative:
The Scottish Executive's Fresh Talent Initiative aims to attract and retain bright hard working people to Scotland. Strands of the Initiative include a Relocation Advisory service that provides information to individuals and employers about relocating to Scotland; a Working in Scotland scheme that enables graduates to remain in Scotland for up to two years after graduating; sponsorship of academic scholarships and a marketing arm that promotes Scotland in the UK and abroad.
If yes - What experience do they have of these initiatives?
What do they think of them?
Any thoughts on how initiatives could be improved?
Collect pre-interview questions if respondent has not already answered them.
Anything else?
Explain we are doing follow up focus groups in February and check they would be happy for us to possibly contact them to participate.
Thank and close
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