North East England

Position : Accounts Director
Company : Mere Mortals
Location : Newcastle upon Tyne

"I came to the UK from South Africa in 2005 for a six-month break.  The plan was to get a temporary job, using my accountancy skills.  I’m a British citizen – my father was in the British army and we emigrated to South Africa as children - and I chose Newcastle because my brother came back 20 years ago and settled here.

In between jobs I explored the countryside.  It’s stunning – absolutely stunning.  Being from emigrant parents you never really belong because you’re always an outsider.  But coming here, I didn’t feel that way.  So I took permanent work.  I’ve only been back to South Africa twice, and I’m finding more and more that I want to be here.  It’s the people that have made all of the difference.
 
I’m studying as well.  I did my AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians), sped through that, and now I’m studying my CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) which is much broader than pure accountancy.  I study at home in my own time.  There are colleges in Newcastle that offer the course and I go in for revision and lectures.  But I find, as I’m a mature student, it’s more convenient to do it in my own time.  I live in a small place called Spennymoor, south of Durham  -  I met a local person and married and this is where he’s from. 

There’s lots of opportunity here.  It’s the character of people in the North East; they like to give it a go.  If you want to do something or have an idea, the sky’s the limit.  For someone at my stage of life to study again, re-think their career and be part of a young company - it’s been an amazing opportunity."