The perfect work/life balance is the holy grail of modern times – that measure of personal fulfillment that is the seal of success.
Aberdeen is a cosmopolitan city that offers cultural activities, festivals and events, the superb array of shopping, restaurants, bars and night life one would expect from Europe’s energy capital.
However, it is Aberdeen’s proximity to some of the most awe-inspiring countryside and coastline that sets it apart from other international cities, and it is one of the few major cities with a beach.
A range of outdoor sports are available on the doorstep. Bag a few Munroes, go mountain-biking, kayaking or sailing, while adrenaline junkies have snow sports in winter, climbing, surfing, wind-surfing and even kite surfing too. The Aberdeenshire coastline also has some of the best surf in the UK and has become something of a Mecca amongst the surfing community.
With no fewer than 50 courses, Royal Aberdeen is the sixth oldest golf course in the world. Along the coast is Cruden Bay, another spectacular golfing gem opened in the 19th century. There are also a number of new high-profile golf courses in the pipeline, including Paul Lawrie’s course at Blairs, Deeside, Jack Nicklaus at the Ury Estate, Stonehaven and two possible courses at Donald Trump’s proposed £billion resort at Balmedie.
The area is home to 70 castles, the highest concentration in Europe. Deeside is the Royal family’s home in Scotland, and it is easy to see why it has had the Royal seal of approval.
It’s not surprising that Aberdeen was voted the UK’s happiest city, with Aberdeenshire named as the best place to live in Scotland. The Bank of Scotland Quality of Life survey measured UK living standards using government statistics on employment, earnings, health, housing, crime and even the weather. Aberdeenshire topped the poll, with a high employment rate of 81.4%, above average earnings, a low crime rate and one of Scotland’s highest life expectancies.
ACHIEVE
It is not just the cultural and outdoor life that has made Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire such an attractive choice for many. The vibrant business community means that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and flourishing, as is demonstrated by the large number of successful businesses that have grown within the region.
A new regional identity campaign is aiming to capture this message, including Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire as the homes of ‘natural pioneers’. The ‘can-do’ attitude and culture has meant that the region is a powerhouse of expertise and knowledge, generating numerous innovators and entrepreneurs, particularly in the oil and gas sector. The many small family businesses that have grown to become international operations are testament to this and the businesses headquartered in the region range from engineering to software development; oil drilling to renewable energy technologies; rich arable and cattle farming to nutrition and food sciences; and life sciences to the water of life, whisky.
Aberdeen has the greatest concentration of subsea engineering and operational experience in the world. Many companies are applying their existing oil and gas expertise to diversify into renewable energy, spearheading the UK’s international drive to secure business in the new energy future.
LEARN
Aberdeen has long been respected for excellence in education. Aberdeen Grammar School founded in 1263, is one of the oldest schools in Britain. The University of Aberdeen dates back to 1495 and is one of Scotland’s oldest universities. By 1858, with the founding of The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen boasted the same number of universities as the whole of England.
The University of Aberdeen is ranked as one of the top universities in the world. Throughout its influential history, the University has produced three Nobel prize-winners and shared a fourth, not surprising that it is regarded as the top research university in Scotland.
25 years ago, Aberdeen scientists developed the MRI scanner. Since then enormous advances have been made with this technology that is now used routinely throughout the world.
Aberdeen University is at the forefront of teaching and research in medicine, the humanities and science, while the Robert Gordon University is a leading academic institution with a global reputation in the energy sector. It is rated as the top university in the UK in terms of graduate employment. It houses Gray’s, one of the oldest art schools in the UK, now at the forefront of new media, with digital design and product design courses.
The Rowett Research Institute is an internationally renowned centre for nutrition research, working to improve food quality and prevent disease. The Macaulay Institute, founded in 1930, is a global centre for research and consultancy on the environment and on the social consequences of rural land uses. The Scottish Agricultural College runs courses in land-based industries from sports and recreation to horticulture and agriculture.
The high quality of life, with its vast range of recreational and sports facilities, has meant that the region has been voted by students as one of the best places to study in the United Kingdom. The quality and choice of schooling on offer in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is very high. The state and private school sectors all perform consistently highly in the league tables throughout Scotland, with both state and private schools appearing in the Top 10, ranked according to examination achievements.
The region is also one of the best educated in the country. Almost a quarter of people living in Aberdeen have a degree, well above the Scottish average, while a further 17 percent of the population are educated to Higher level.
EXPLORE
From the time when Queen Victoria decided that Deeside would be her holiday home in Scotland, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has been a magnet for visitors.
And it’s easy to see why. From the mountains to the sea, Aberdeen City and Shire provides spectacular scenery and some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. With architecture, history, culture, art and sport on the agenda, the region has something for everyone to enjoy, no matter where their interests lie.
From international festivals to colourful highland games, there is much to see and do, such as taking a trip along the Whisky Trail to sample a dram or two of ‘the water of life’, one of the iconic emblems of Scottish heritage.
From the majestic peaks of the Cairngorms to grand glens, this is a walker’s paradise. For those with a passion for rod and reel, the region boasts some of the finest salmon fishing in the country, and in addition to being a heaven for golf enthusiasts, the region provides the ultimate challenge for lovers of extreme sports.
The prosperity of the region has generated considerable growth in business and leisure tourism and the rise in prestigious hotel brand establishing themselves in the city reflects confidence in the area and its economic future.
Aberdeen is also a city of culture where arts and music play an important role. The music hall plays host to a wide range of concerts and the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference centre is the North’s premier facility for major rock and pop concerts, sporting events, public shows and exhibitions.
His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen, which first opened its doors in 1906, continues to attract a wide range of top quality theatre productions from West End musicals to opera, ballet, contemporary dance, drama and much more.
A stone’s throw away is Aberdeen Art Gallery a beautiful granite building which first opened in 1885 especially striking with its marble lined interior. Today it houses a varied collection of Modern Art.
With 100 miles of coastline, the region has a rich affinity with the sea and the award winning Maritime Museum, the Macduff Marine aquarium and Kinnaird Head at Fraserburgh, the first lighthouse to be built in Scotland in 1787, all celebrate the rich maritime tradition in this area.
The history of this area goes back many thousands of years with Iron Age Forts, Pictish standing stones, Neolithic stone circles and Bronze Age sites.
Archaeolink, a multi award winning living history park and visitor attraction, provides a hands-on insight into life from Mesolithic times to a Roman Marching Camp.
The region also boasts the greatest concentration of castles in the whole of the Europe, from the dramatic stronghold of Dunnottar Castle to the impressive ruins of Slains castle at Cruden Bay, the mystical fortress that inspired Bram Stoker to pen the blood curdling tale of Dracula. Craigievar is believed to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney’s fairy tale castles.
Crathes Castle is also renowned for the horticultural displays in its spectacular gardens and grounds and, as a regular winner of the Britain in Bloom awards, Aberdeen is home to parks and gardens that can be enjoyed both summer and winter.
All of this and first class education, an excellent health service, a safe environment and a quality of life second to none …. Aberdeen City and Shire, a truly exceptional place to live.
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