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Moving to Shetland at the end of August - advice wanted!


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Hello there. I'm originally from the Central Belt but have lived and worked abroad for the last 30 odd years. Due to family circumstances I'm moving back to Scotland but, to be honest, I can't picture myself back in Coatbridge. I'm a youthful 54 and I still want life to be an adventure, so I have decided to look into moving to Shetland.`

 

I have been teaching English in Central and Eastern Europe for the last twenty-two years but before that I worked all sorts of jobs: construction (the family business), factory jobs, warehousing, restaurant and bar work, hotel porter, milk processing, landscaping/gardening, driver's mate, etc, etc. - basically everything and anything. I'm looking for a change of scene and would like a bit of variety. What would be the chances of picking up two or three, even four, part-time jobs? Would I be right in assuming that a lot of part-time posts would be filled without necessarily advertising them? What about casual work, is there a lot of it around? 

 

I've been told that it might be possible to get social housing depending on where I choose to go. I looked at Shetland Council housing website and their low demand housing section. I was interested in the possibility of living on Yell. Anyone have any opinions? If I could get a house there, what would the chances of employment be? And what about transport? I don't drive - I use public transport, hitch hike and I am a cyclist (I cover big distances regularly) and also have the opportunity of getting a motorbike, would I be able to live on Yell, transport wise?

 

Yell notwithstanding, where would you recommend for someone who  is not afraid of hard work, is prepared to take on a challenge and is looking for something different? All advice, recommendations and suggestions gratefully accepted.

Edited by George M Campbell
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Lots of questions :)

 

Regarding Yell, public transport is limited to say the least. However, if you've access to a motorbike then that's not an issue. Also bear in mind that on Yell and Unst you can legally drive a car on a provisional licence unaccompanied.

 

Living on Yell and working on mainland is do-able as there is a bus that meets the ferry early morning that runs down to Lerwick via Brae. TBH, if you get a place on Yell or Unst I would suggest approaching Cooke Aquaculture in Mid Yell. They are always on the lookout for staff for their salmon packing station as they get let down by some of their existing staff on a regular basis. The pay's not too bad and there is a Christmas bonus (not guaranteed) that can amount to a good few hundred quid after tax.

 

Mainland - contact Shetland Shellfish Management Group Ltd at Sparl, Brae. They sometimes need staff for their mussels grading and packing line. Or try Shetland Catch in Lerwick.

 

Accom can be a big issue in Shetland, but i reckon you've more chance of getting a rental at sensible prices on the isles than mainland. Advertise on here under accom and see what turns up, there's private lets that come up, but sometimes they get let out just by word of mouth - that's Shetland for you :)

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Guest tiodylb17

I think you would like Yell , its a very short ferry journey to the mainland plus it has everything you need . couple of local shops , swimming pool and fitness center , I think there is a café there as well, there is council housing there not sure of the demand.

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