Graduate Jobs Edinburgh

Edinburgh at a glance

Fancy heading to a capital city that’s not London? Why not get out of England, and head to the majestic hills of Edinburgh? Not only is it extremely picturesque, but it’s bursting with culture, playing host to the world-famous Fringe Festival every August. It’s also home to historic castles, traditional Scottish pubs and of course the café that J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter in (if you’re a Potterhead, you’ll love this city for sure).

Believe it or not, Edinburgh actually has the lowest unemployment rates of any city in the UK! There are plenty of job opportunities and the city is also home to one of Britain’s most prestigious – and oldest – universities.

Area guide to Edinburgh

Edinburgh is divided into six areas. The city centre features the famous Prince’s Street for shopping, museums and gardens. Grassmarket is nestled in Edinburgh’s Old Town, featuring historic cobbled streets and independent boutiques. The Royal Mile connects the city’s two royal residences (the Castle and the palace of Holyrood House) and is home to a number of tourist attractions, including St Andrew’s Cathedral.

West End is the more bohemian area of the city and Leith is the newer waterfront development, whilst Stockbridge is the ‘village’ area of the city, where many artists and writers have made their homes. If you’re a student, you’ll likely be based in Southside – where you’ll find artisan bakers and chocolatiers as well as great cafés, bars and restaurants.

Explore beyond Edinburgh and you’ll find the rural Lothians. From seaside views to heritage sites and luscious lakes, you can be out in the tranquil countryside before you know it.

Universities in Edinburgh

There are a number of universities and higher education colleges in Edinburgh, including:

• University of Edinburgh
• Edinburgh Napier University
• Heriot-Watt University
• Royal College of Surgeons

Employers in Edinburgh

With a big university presence in the city, many make a living in Edinburgh through the art of academia. Otherwise, some of the biggest employers include Scottish banks like RBS, Lloyds TSB and the Bank of Scotland, or insurance companies such as Standard Life Aberdeen and Scottish Widows. Keep an eye out on Debut for opportunities available in the Edinburgh area!

Edinburgh by Sector

Financial services

Edinburgh has a 300 year history in the world of finance, being the largest centre outside of London. The city is home to Europe’s second largest asset fund manager, Standard Life Aberdeen, as well as several retail and challenger banks. The city is also on the way to becoming one of the biggest fintech hubs, because of advancements in another major sector…

Tech & software

Edinburgh has a very ambitious vision: to become the Data Capital of Europe, and it’s on track to be just that. The city is home to one of the largest incubators for tech start-ups, whilst the University of Edinburgh has committed to training a whopping 100,000 data scientists in the next 10 years. That’s a whole load of tech brains!

Creative industries

This picturesque location isn’t just for tourists; Edinburgh is the backdrop for many films and therefore the home to loads of production companies. The city also hosts several video games companies and of course generates hundreds of jobs every year to help support and run the Fringe Festival.

Cost of Edinburgh

In terms of the UK average Edinburgh is considered quite expensive to live in, but not quite as pricey as The Big Smoke. For a one bed flat in the city centre, you’ll be looking upwards of £550 per month, which drops by £150 if you’re in the outskirts (but you must factor in travel costs with that). The average price of a pint in the Scottish capital is between £3-£4, and an inexpensive restaurant will set you back around £10-£15.

You can get around the city via bus and tram, and a monthly pass will cost a very reasonable £45. And let’s be honest – with some London Oyster Cards being more than triple that, it isn’t bad going.