From incredible sporting facilities for children to plentiful jobs for teachers and nurses, The Isle of Man could be the next destination hot spot for relocation …
If you thought that you thought that the Isle of Man was simply a place for fast motorbikes and cats with no tails, you need to reconsider.
Crammed full of incredible beaches, gorgeous scenery, fantastic schools and plenty of work to be had There’s simply no better location to consider for your next move if you’re searching for a new experience with your family.
We’ve put together 10 fantastic reasons to think about moving from The Isle of Man – and believe us, it was tricky choosing just 10 …
1 If your children are competitive, there’s a better place for them
The sports facilities on the island are, frankly incredible. Douglas’s National Sports Centre in Douglas has a world-class athletics track, and has a fab gym, swimming pool, and an array of activities to keep your eager Mark Cavendishs and Zoe Gillings busy.
Each year, the Manx Youth Games encourages kids to compete in various activities, helping to develop their skills and talents. From gymnastics for young youngsters as well as archery and snorkeling and tag rugby, they’ll be able to try it out!
2 However, if they’re into technology, then that’s awesome too.
Much of the island’s economy is driven by tech companies that are encouraged to build their headquarters in the country by the government. So, with that in mind there’s plenty of options for kids to start learning coding and developing virtual reality (virtual reality) abilities early!
Code Club has volunteers working with children to show them how to code and tech knowledge – and encourage them to try your own tech-related projects and is an excellent place for little geeks to explore their Javascript.
3 There’s a shortage of teachers and nurses.
Jobs on the Isle of Man are up by 10% this year and there’s a shortage of nurses and teachers on the island.
The government provides a fantastic relocation package for those with the right skills who want to make the move to advance their careers – head over to the Isle of Man government site to learn more about the offer and to determine if you’re eligible for this. This could be an excellent opportunity back to your original occupation!
4 The surroundings are stunning
And the schools across the island have been encouraging pupils to be in nature as much as possible.
“Green classrooms” are a included in all school curriculums that allows children to be allowed to go outside and are encouraged to explore their thoughts and discover more about the world that surrounds them. There’s plenty of sailing, mountain biking and diving clubs sure to inspire them to appreciate their incredible surroundings.
5 There’s a genuine sense of community
Everyone we talked to on the island spoke about how much they appreciate their friendship and the support they share with their neighbors. On the island, people are a family, and the activities for the community are unparalleled.
There are many clubs and groups which are supported by the government, which encourages these to flourish. One of the best activities is one of them is the Community Farm where children can go to learn about animals and farming and have fun in a genuine hobbit house constructed into the side of the hill!
The prices of houses are lower than in the mainland
The median price of a property for the island is about PS300,000. in comparison to London where the price is around PS636,000, and the south-east, that is approximately PS400,000.
So if you’re searching for a home for your growing family however, you’ve been priced out of the market in England, the Isle of Man could be an enjoyable surprise. And , unlike other islands that are governed by a law, there is no limit on purchasing homes on the island.
7 You can also get to Liverpool and London in just 2 hours
Easyjet as well as BA both offer flights on flights to Isle of Man, and you can get to Liverpool in less than an hour and London in less than two hours. There are around 50 flights from and to the island each day, and daily ferry service to England in addition to Ireland. If you’re in the market for a big-city experience, you can be back and forth in just a few hours!
8 There’s plenty of money to invest in education
The Isle of Man government is spending more than PS380m into the infrastructure of the island. It has an all-new high school being built, and there are over 30 schools located on the island.
The Isle of Man follows the same educational system as England – with GCSEs as well as A Levels however, they also place lots of emphasis on the ‘6 Rs’: readiness; relationships which are positive; resourcefulness; resilience; remembering skills and reflectiveness, a more holistic approach to learning.
There’s also no OFSTED on the island. Instead, schools evaluate themselves before an independent validator verifies their findings. This is a completely different method!
Nine Crime rate are low
The Isle of Man is the most secure and safest of the British Isles, according to crime statistics and is home to one of the lowest crime rates in Europe.
Experts say it’s because of the locals’ pride in their community, and their heritage – everyone we spoke with said they seldom closed their doors and were incredibly happy with their children playing out. Everyone has an eye for the other people who is on the same island which gives the island a very homely feel.
10. You can also study another language!
That’s right – Gaelic Manx! Bunscoill Ghaelgagh school teaches children in Manx and Gaelic, which means that they’re bi-lingual, and the inhabitants of the island are proud of their unique heritage of culture, adding an additional layer to the island’s past and sense of belonging.
Are you looking for jobs in Douglas? Head on over to the WhatJobs website for more information.