Lifestyle

Glasgow is one of Europe's most vibrant and cosmopolitan destinations, a city where business, sport and international culture flourish.

The city that inspired the Art Nouveau architectural masterpieces of Charles Rennie Mackintosh is now a dynamic 21st century metropolis and home to some of the world's best known companies. The traditional friendliness and openness of Glaswegians means you are guaranteed a warm welcome and a working environment with people like you.

• An exciting mix of world class culture. From Scottish Ballet to avant-garde dance, Scottish Opera to rock concerts, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama to some of the finest collections of civic art in Europe at the Burrell Collection and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
• Glasgow has a superb selection of first class housing, including apartments on the River Clyde and generously proportioned Victorian flats in the West End. With large family homes in the leafy suburbs close to high quality school provision and the combination of a business location within minutes, this city offers a perfect solution to today's demanding lifestyle.
• With more than half a million square metres of retail floor space, Glasgow is the UK's largest and most successful shopping location outside of the West End of London. Expansion and redevelopment work at the city's St Enoch Centre, Buchanan Galleries and Glasgow Fort shopping complexes will provide over 400,000m2 of additional retail/leisure space.
• Nearly 57,000 of Scotland's students study in Glasgow's five Higher Education institutions (the largest concentration outside London) with another 90,000 in the city's Further Education colleges. The University of Strathclyde has the only business school in Scotland recognised by the world's three top accreditation bodies. The University of Glasgow meanwhile has an international reputation as a research powerhouse and was one of only a handful of UK institutions named in the top 100 of the Times Higher Education world ranking of universities (2008-09). Glasgow's major schools modernisation programme ensures the city continues to produce a stream of highly-qualified and adaptable employees.
• The Clyde coast with its stunning scenery and water sports is on the city's doorstep, while Loch Lomond, gateway to the Highlands, is just 45 minutes away. Some of the world's greatest golf courses, such as Turnberry, Troon and Gleneagles are within an hour's drive of Glasgow.
• Glasgow is a city that has a track record of hosting major international events. Glasgow is host city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.  When it comes to culture, nightlife and food, the city is hard to beat, which is why Lonely Planet has tipped Glasgow as one of the top cities in the world to visit in the coming year in its new book "Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009".