Why You Shouldn’t Underestimate Scotland As A Destination For Executive Careers

Scotland is a small nation that enjoys a prominent international profile and it leads the way in a diverse range of academic, professional and commercial sectors. 

Yet despite a strong sense of identify and confidence, Scotland can be surprisingly modest when it comes to promoting the scope of executive opportunities available in our economy and the positive characteristics of our tight-knit business community.

Scotland regularly attracts international attention through major cultural, sporting and business events. But despite Scotland’s global reputation, some executive candidates still perceive a move here may be restrictive in terms of professional prospects and opportunities.

This view underplays what Scotland has to offer and overlooks many of the reasons that make senior executive roles here so rewarding and distinctive.

Why Scotland’s business environment supports executive growth

Scotland has a longstanding and established pedigree in a wide range of sectors, including:

• Construction and infrastructure
• Creative industries
• Education, academia and research
• Financial services
• Food and drink
• Life sciences and healthcare
• Oil and gas
• Renewable energy
• Technology and Fintech
• Tourism and hospitality

The latest EY Scotland Attractiveness Survey confirms Scotland’s standing. It reports that Scotland has retained its position as the UK’s leading destination for foreign direct investment outside London and that its attractiveness for such investment is at record levels.

The opportunity to connect with other senior operators also extends beyond business and stretches into politics, the arts, culture, sport, academia and the third sector. For executives interested in broadening their experience, there is often scope to expand their existing portfolio of responsibilities and to explore potential opportunities for the future.

Why senior leaders can build broader careers in Scotland

When evaluating executive opportunities, candidates increasingly look beyond the immediate role to understand future career pathways. Scotland's established industries and concentrated leadership community provide access to multiple senior opportunities and make cross-sector moves a common feature of executive careers.

This is particularly true for non-executive boards and one current role for which we have the mandate typifies the diversity of the local market. The Scottish National Investment Bank is recruiting three non-executive directors. The state-owned development bank invests in both established and emerging sectors across the economy and seeks to secure additional private capital investment into the projects it supports.

This year, it has announced investments into projects ranging from battery storage and housebuilding to healthcare and marine infrastructure. For the successful candidates, the experience will be extraordinarily diverse and see them engaging with leaders across the entire Scottish economy. It is a role that typifies the diversity of experience and opportunity offered by many senior corporate roles in Scotland.

Quality of life helps attract executive talent

Lifestyle is another important consideration for executives weighing a potential move and relocation decisions rarely focus on the role alone. Of course, the role has to be an excellent fit, but that is just one piece of the jigsaw.

This becomes more complex when there are partners and children to consider. The lifestyle proposition must also be attractive and that means working through issues such as education and housing as well as exploring social and recreational options.

Scotland offers a broad range of lifestyle choices for executives. Many roles are located in the Central Belt which offers city dwelling as well as country living with relatively short commuting journeys. There are also numerous companies operating in markets, including oil and gas, renewable energy, hospitality and luxury drinks, with headquarters in more remote communities.

We have supported executives relocating from major international centres across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the UK, as well as Scottish expatriates returning home to advance their careers.

A role in Scotland may not appeal to potential candidates for many valid, varied and personal reasons. But for those who feel it might blow their career off-track or restrict their future opportunities, the lived experience of many executives already working here says otherwise.

From our work advising boards and leadership teams across Scotland, we continue to see organisations successfully attract senior talent from around the world. The executives who make the move often find that Scotland offers a rare combination of professional opportunity, cross-sector influence and quality of life, broadening, rather than limiting, their future career prospects.

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Odgers provides integrated executive search and leadership advisory services. We are deeply rooted in our local markets, which we combine with global perspective and reach to help organisations build transformational, world-class leadership teams.  

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