The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

10. RETENTION: STAYING ON IN SCOTLAND AFTER FTWISS

10.1 Whether individuals actually try and stay in Scotland once their FTWiSS 2 year period has come to the end, could be seen as the ultimate successful outcome. As the report has shown, there are a number of successful outcomes to be derived from the scheme, but recent events in Scotland highlight the Scottish Government's increased focus and determination to invite migrants to play a part in growing Scotland's economy. The Scottish Government Economic Strategy contains a population target which sets a far more explicit direction for policies such as Fresh Talent than was previously the case. Success in relation to the population target is not only about getting people to come to Scotland, but actually getting them to stay. Retention therefore becomes a critical factor and this section reviews the success of FTWiSS in achieving this.

Experience of life in Scotland

10.2 Living in Scotland, for those on FTWiSS or international graduates who intend to go onto FTWiSS, is a generally positive experience. For example, Chinese students studying in Scotland, many of whom were influenced to come to Scotland because of FTWiSS, were positive about Scotland's education system, which they described as being "free thinking" in terms of its structure; the friendly people and welcoming atmosphere; and the physical and cultural environment. ⁷⁶ Scotland also performs well on the International Student Barometer and the same themes emerge as are listed above. ⁷⁷

10.3 This general warmth about and high satisfaction with living in Scotland is borne out in other research with international students and other people from overseas who have relocated to Scotland. ⁷⁸ Satisfaction with the lifestyle has been identified as being a factor in the decision people might make about staying on in the long-term, but is "not a strong enough factor on its own to retain people". ⁷⁹ Many of those taking part in the qualitative research on relocating to Scotland both enjoyed the process of moving around the world and were also keen to build their career, which often meant going to the place where the right job could be found. Their commitment to Scotland was therefore fluid, despite enjoying the lifestyle.

Positive Aspects of Living in Scotland

10.4 The majority of participants in the qualitative research with those on FTWiSS for about 2 years felt very positive about their life in Scotland. In particular, people enjoyed the cultural life in Edinburgh, both modern and traditional:

I love Edinburgh. It's just my favourite city in the world, there's just so many things to do. I love that the galleries are free, I love that the Royal Botanic garden is free, you can just spend a lovely day there in the sunshine. The festival is a huge draw for me, I love theatre so this is my idea of heaven. I love the fact that I live within 10 minutes walking distance of the city centre (…) Overall, I think it's a great place to live, restaurants, I love the quality of restaurants, nightlife is great if you're into that .

There are a few international, I really enjoy the Indian community in Edinburgh, the different Indian festivals and they're quite open anyone can go to them, I enjoy that, the mixing aspect.

10.5 Interviewees also appreciated the possibility to visit areas of unspoiled nature and historic sites, and that they are relatively easily from Edinburgh:

The nature is quite nice when you go up to the north and you can be completely in the middle of nowhere just you and the midges.

But there is so much to do, especially here in Edinburgh, my weekends have been absolutely busy, I've been driving around Scotland seeing things as a tourist, you like some places so you keep going back again and again, in Scotland there's plenty to do.

I love Scottish culture, I loved the history that surrounded me, in Edinburgh and travelling through the Highlands, I loved the bagpipe music. (…) Everywhere I went it was absolutely gorgeous, I was really taken with the history which probably lots of Americans are taken with the history throughout the UK, the castles everywhere. I also thought it was so green and just lush and beautiful and I just thought it was a fantastic place to live.

Negative Aspects of Living in Scotland

10.6 Negative aspects mentioned were the weather, the cost of living and the low salaries compared to the same jobs in other western countries. It was highlighted that it was more difficult to have a high standard of living on Scottish salaries than elsewhere.

In your day to day life you spend so much on food, which is costing at least 5 or 6 times what we pay back in [home country], that's a big shock.

It seems to me that the wages don't match up with what you have to spend. I look at jobs that pay really low wages and I think 'Oh my god, how can anyone survive on that?' I'm barely getting by on what I'm paid, and its not much, but its better than some. The wages just seem, compared to what I made in [home country], and I was not in a well paid job [there], but I'm having a harder time getting a good quality of living with my salary here versus what I had then. Things are more expensive here in general. And I find it harder to get by day by day.

10.7 Another issue that was mentioned by several interviewees was the drinking culture and the related violence:

Sometimes I do feel like the drinking culture and behaviour in the city at night time can be a little scary, especially if you're on your own.

What I don't like about Scotland has to be the drinking culture. For me it is still, not a shock, but its just amazing to go out on a Friday night and seeing the individuals that have had so much to drink in such a short amount of time and then just everything that spins off off that. That for me is quite shocking.

I don't feel very safe late at night walking the streets, there's always people getting into fights, and you hear about stabbing, rapes and so on.

The Scottish People

10.8 Experiences of the Scottish people differed between interviewees. Most interviewees felt accepted in Scotland, had found Scottish people to be extremely approachable and easy going and considered Scotland to be very friendly country, particularly in comparison to other countries or regions they had lived in:

I loved the Scottish people and culture, I found Scottish people to be very friendly, everywhere I went, compared to [people from home region] which is my base of comparison, where people are not friendly. In Scotland people smile at you and say hello when you walk into a store and ask you how your day was, especially in the Highlands. The job that I had I interacted with a lot of people at different levels, and people were very friendly.

It's a quiet and friendly place to live, its one of the best places you could ever live and feel secure. I mean the place is safe, you don't have to bother about security. I think the people too are nice, because I've been to London on a few occasions and I asked people directions and its horrible, even before you've asked they tell you I don't know, but in Scotland its different, people have the time and sometimes can walk you up to a certain point and are friendly.

Scotland has this, its got a nice mix, a lot of the things I enjoy about from the United States and a lot of things I enjoy from the Continent coming together so it has a nice culture it has a the atmosphere is nice, laid back and relaxed, the people are open to change and differences.

10.9 However, a small number of participants felt that Scottish people were reluctant to engage with outsiders, and some had experienced negative attitudes due to their nationality, and in one case, racism. These individuals described Scotland as a closed and somewhat backward-looking society, again in comparison to other countries or places.

Basically, I've made an effort [to meet neighbours] and I think it is important that you, which other people don't do, it happens all over the UK, people don't mix about, they like to keep within their house, when they come home that is it, they shut off the world.

I don't feel accepted at all [by Scottish people] I get a lot of criticism about my country and obviously not things that I've done or have any control over, its something that's been quite difficult for me to deal with. And I don't get it at all from any of my international friends, but its something that my Scottish friends and work colleagues bring up quite regularly.

10.10 Another issue that was perceived negatively by several participant was the class system, and the importance it plays in people's everyday lives and the influence it has on their life chances:

I was very amazed at the class difference, how you have the bankers around the centre and maybe the people who have a wealthy sort of background but also then you go out to the fringes and its like a completely different world and that for me was the big shock I wouldn't have expected that.

Recommending Scotland

10.11 Interviewees' overall positive experience was reflected by the fact that most would recommend or already had recommended Scotland to friends and family, both as a place to visit and to study or work:

I'd definitely recommend Scotland to other people. I have said to people you know if you're looking at doing something, for example I have a friend whose younger brother wants to study and he's looking at studying either in the United States or in Scotland and I've said you know universities-wise Edinburgh or even Scotland in general is quite good place to come. So he's considering that.

I recommend Scotland to everyone that I meet. Its such a fantastic place to visit or spend a few months, I'm trying to convince my little brother to study abroad there, I honestly recommend it to everyone I know, especially touring through the Highlands.

Scotland as a Place to Live, Study and Work

10.12 Responses from the monitoring questionnaire show that respondents saw Scotland in a very positive light, with around 90% of respondents describing Scotland as a good place to live and study (see Tables 12 and 13). Unsurprisingly, given the problems in finding suitable employment experienced by many individuals on FTWiSS, perceptions of Scotland as a place to work were slightly less positive with around three quarters of respondents seeing Scotland as attractive in this respect (see Table 14).

Table 12 Perceptions of Scotland as a place to live

Base: All respondents who answered question (wave 1: 701, wave 2: 162, wave 3: 201)
Source: FTWiSS monitoring questionnaire

Table 13 Perceptions of Scotland as a place to study

Base: All respondents who answered question (wave 1: 702, wave 2: 162, wave 3: 201)
Source: FTWiSS monitoring questionnaire

Table 14 Perceptions of Scotland as a place to work

Base: All respondents who answered question (wave 1: 701, wave 2: 162, wave 3: 201)
Source: FTWiSS monitoring questionnaire

10.13 FTWiSS seems to have played an important role in raising awareness of Scotland; it has given a large number of students the opportunity to experience Scotland first hand and, for the very most part, this has led to these individuals feeling an affinity, to varying degrees, with the country. Whether they go on to live in Scotland, move home or settle somewhere else, they have become ambassadors who are willing to speak positively about what Scotland has to offer.

Plans for the future

10.14 One possible positive outcome for FTWiSS is the individual deciding to stay on past their 2 year extension to visa. While there are other possible outcomes, such as the individual taking away a good impression of Scotland which may lead them to recommend it to someone else as a place to live and work in the future, encouraging people to stay for longer is very important. Again, there are distinctions to be made between the role and influence of FTWiSS in encouraging: international students to come to Scotland; international graduates to stay on after graduation using FTWiSS; and people staying on in Scotland at the end of the 2 years.

Staying on In the Short, Medium and Long Term

10.15 Chapter 4 and 5 have already shown how effective FTWiSS can be at attracting students to study in Scotland and there is some evidence that FTWiSS increases the likelihood of an international student staying on after graduation. The i-graduate survey shows that 17% of those surveyed about their future intentions reported that they intended staying on using FTWiSS or equivalent, compared to 13% in England and Wales. ⁸⁰

10.16 Looking at the research with those on FTWiSS for around 2 years, of those participants that were still living in Scotland, most intended to stay on after the end of their FTWiSS leave and most intended to stay in the medium term (for the next 5 or 6 years) before returning home or moving elsewhere, although a few would consider settling in Scotland.

10.17 Other sources linked to what happens at the end of the 2 years indicates that a good proportion of individuals are actively pursuing a longer stay in Scotland. Analysis of FTWiSS statistics for applications made between June and August 2007 conducted by the Border and Immigration Agency showed that 44% of applicants had remained in Scotland at the end of the two years leave, and a further 12% remained in the UK outside Scotland.

10.18 Data from the monitoring questionnaire also shows a significant group saying that their intentions towards staying in Scotland stretch beyond the 2 years set by the scheme. Most respondents plan to stay in Scotland for more than 3 years, although a very significant minority said they expected to stay for a shorter time (Table 15).

Table 15 Expected length of stay in Scotland

Base: All respondents who answered question (wave 1: 654, wave 2: 152, wave 3: 155)
Source: FTWiSS monitoring questionnaire

The Decision to Stay

10.19 The final decision on whether to stay or not appeared to depend mainly on whether their employment and immigration conditions were right. Several individuals stated that all things being equal, they would want to live in Scotland, but were keen to point out that they were not 'desperate' that they would move away if their career was better furthered elsewhere.

All things being equal, I would prefer Scotland, if I get two offers one from Scotland and one from say London with comparable salaries and other benefits, and comparable roles, then I would stay in Scotland.

10.20 Given the fact that FTWiSS does only last 2 years, a number of the research reports have stressed the need to do more to maximise the scheme or explore ways of extending the scheme further. This reflects some of the evidence that a longer period of time or a clearer sense of the different options available at the end of FTWiSS could better facilitate the experience for those on the scheme. For instance, the Phase 2 evaluation of RAS recommends considering a more active approach to matching international graduates, or people thinking of moving to Scotland, with jobs in particular industrial sectors. ⁸¹ And research from 2006 on the Experience of People who Relocate to Scotland suggests expanding the FTWiSS scheme to all individuals who have graduated from Scottish universities in the last 10 years. ⁸² Both of these ideas link to the notion that, in order to affect people's thinking about staying on in Scotland, efforts must be, at least equally, concentrated on people once they have come on to the scheme or staying in touch with them if they decide to leave straight after graduation.

Barriers to remaining in Scotland

10.21 Frustrations in finding suitable employment in many ways might be thought of as one of the major barriers to staying on in Scotland (see Chapter 10). However, employment is not the only potential barrier because a whole range of factors to do with the individual and their background, as well as the country they have moved to and the community they end up living in, can influence the likelihood of people deciding to stay on. From the decision to actually move to a place to eventually feeling a sense of belonging in a place can be a long and complex process. ⁸³

Moving on to Other Residency Schemes

10.22 Most taking part in the qualitative research with those on FTWiSS for around 2 years who said that wanted to stay on in Scotland after their visa expired were unsure about whether it was possible to stay. The majority of participants did not qualify for the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme ( HSMP), and were therefore reliant on their employers to apply for a work permit for them. While many employers were happy to do so, several were unable or unwilling to go through the process of applying for a work permit, partly because they were unsure of how likely they were to be successful:

I don't think convincing an employer to apply for a work permit for you, even one you have been working for for a long time is easy, because it's a lot of work for them. I've been with the same employer for two almost two years and they're not willing to do it because of the paperwork involved, and they're not willing to do it for something that is questionable whether they will get it or not.

10.23 There generally was a lot of confusion about changing immigration status, with many interviewees having been given conflicting and, in some cases, wrong, advice. There appeared to be a lack of written 'facts' about immigration in particular:

When you get your visa, they should give you a booklet with all the information you need collected together. We cannot just listen to people, we need to see it.

10.24 One participant was self-employed and therefore highly unlikely to be able to remain despite having built up a thriving business. This person felt that had he been given realistic advice at the beginning of this FTWiSS leave that work permits need to be applied for by an employer rather than the person wishing to stay in Scotland he would have sought employment rather than becoming self-employed.

The Cost of Living

10.25 Research undertaken with people living, working and studying in Scotland also identifies a few common features. The high cost of living and finding suitable accommodation are two issues that are raised by international students and those thinking about coming to study in Scotland. ⁸⁴ Specific difficulties, such as problems opening bank accounts and other practical day-to-day functions, have been identified too. ⁸⁵ In some respects, many of the aspects of moving to Scotland and deciding to stay are generic and could be applied to a lot of countries. However, for international students and those on FTWiSS, there are particular features around the cost of living and finding suitable employment which are "Scottish" issues.

Providing Support to Those Already on FTWiSS

10.26 The services offered by RAS have often been put forward as one possible avenue for enquiry for those who need some level of support either coming to Scotland or, in the case of those already on FTWiSS, staying on in Scotland. However, the service is not pro-active in that it is not responsible for checking-in with those on FTWiSS to see how they are getting on or whether they have managed to find work, nor is any other body responsible for doing so. The RAS service itself is not resourced to offer intensive, tailored support and it may be that, given the high expectations of some of those on FTWiSS, this is not enough to deal with the frustrations of adjusting to life in a different country or finding suitable employment. There does appear to be a demand for a level of support to those on FTWiSS once they have successfully applied to the scheme, other than monitoring their progress.

« Previous | Contents | Next »