City is one of top places to work in Europe, finds poll

IT IS easy to forget sometimes, but Edinburgh really is one of the best places to live and work - and that's official.

The Capital has been ranked the best in Britain and in the top ten of European cities for the quality of life it offers to employees. The same poll also reports Auld Reekie has the third cleanest air, just behind Stockholm and Oslo.

It is the first time Edinburgh has been included in the poll, by commercial real estate brokers Cushman and Wakefield, which rates cities in 15 different categories. Overall the city was rated in 27th place.

Angela Lowe, of Cushman and Wakefield, said the result should be celebrated. "This is the first time Edinburgh has been included in the European Cities Monitor poll and it is fantastic that it has scored so highly in this very important category," she said.

"There has always been a lot of very positive sentiment amongst the international business community about Edinburgh, partly because of its reputation as one of the world's leading financial centres but also because so many people have visited the Capital as tourists and fallen in love with its incredible architecture, cultural attractions, fabulous shops and award-winning restaurants and hotels."

Edinburgh did lose out to Glasgow in the category of "value for money of office space", with Edinburgh in 28th whilst Glasgow was in fourth.

This was despite the fact that prime retail in Glasgow is actually more expensive, around 29 per sq ft, than the Capital, where it is 27 per sq ft, and highlights the fact that businesses believe that Edinburgh is an expensive place to work.

The survey did not explain why this was the first time since it started in 1990 that Edinburgh had been included, but the results were welcomed by city chiefs nevertheless.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "Naturally, I welcome Edinburgh's inclusion in the survey for the first time.

"As we know from a number of other similar surveys and awards, Edinburgh is widely regarded as being a desirable city in which to live, visit, study and invest, and these latest results enhance our reputation still further.

"The city truly has the best of everything; historic buildings and great atmosphere, a vibrant leisure and retail offering, abundant green space, outstanding schools and universities. The list goes on. Little wonder, then that Edinburgh scores so highly in terms of quality of life for employees."

The top ten

Best cities in terms of quality of life for employees

1 Barcelona

2 Munich

3 Stockholm

4 Paris

5 Zurich

6 Madrid

7 Copenhagen

8 Edinburgh

9 Geneva

10 London